Live webchat with David Cameron - this Thursday 19th, 1.45 pm

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello all - David Cameron is coming on to Mumsnet to answer your questions this Thursday at 1.45-2.45. Please post advance questions here if you can't make it on Thursday. (And please read our Webchat guidelines above before posting ie only one question each). Many thanks.

Riven. Okay...I'm so sorry but my friends Mum has just had a heart attack and I'm going to see her, would be up for it another time though!

I like 'long slow handclap'.

Must. Try. Harder.

Couldn't MN have a list of questions submitted a week before and then people notified whether ot not their questions/topics will be answered. Then all are invited to watch but only some have the ability to post?

well I missed the fun - but I'm surprised that after his last visit he hadn't arranged a typist. The man that wants to run the country can't arrange a typist so he can provide a few more non-answers!

The tweets are not fair - mumsnetters have not been overly impressed by any politician as none of them do more than fob you off. However DC promising to visit riven and not going was not a wise move.

I just hope he actually meets Riven this time. And doesn't show up with a press pack and camera crew.

Wilf is right though - it is a problem with the format (and his laptop exploded, which didn't help).

He had loads of questions already on the thread (including mine, ahem) but didn't seem to have answers to those already prepared, shame. But then it's not an interactive live chat because he's trying to get through questions already left. So nobody is satisfied.

Not entirely his fault - except perhaps in poor planning.

How did old quicko Alan manage it? Did he have less questions, or more already prepared answers?

Re the claim that DC was much worse than GordonBrown:

GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 12:46:38 - hi
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 12:49:05 - childcare vouchers
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 12:51:40 - bank bonuses
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 12:54:18 - Copenhagen agreement/environment
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 12:56:08 - solar panel on Gordon's house
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 12:57:33 - expenses
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:02:04 - Cambridge report
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:03:05 - please write to me re autistic children
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:05:16 - more university students
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:09:27 - child tax credits
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:10:14 - maternity pay
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:14:53 - what he watches on TV
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:15:37 - not unlucky
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:17:17 - miscarriage
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:18:57 - maternity services
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:19:42 - sure start
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:21:40 - breastfeeding
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:26:19 - armed forces
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:28:48 - childcare 4 self employed
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:31:16 - married couples allowance
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:33:08 - GB's health
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:34:55 - choice of maternity
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:40:28 - prescription charges
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:45:42 - biometric passport
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:47:50 - failing schools
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:49:55 - his wife
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:52:31 - female politicians
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:56:24 - prerecorded 'vote Labour' message
GordonBrown Fri 16-Oct-09 13:58:29 - bye

= 27 answers + hello/goodbye

DC did 22 answers, he actually answered MORE questions in the time he was here (Gordon was early). The main difference seems to be this thread was much more hostile.

The BBC 'overextended' was what got me!!

Why does an institution that is as successful as the BBC need to be brought down? The Tories should be applauding the public service ethos of the BBC not trying to find ways to let Murdoch weasel in

As an LP I would never vote Tory. I fear for children who are not living with parents in a committed relationship if they do get in.

I've been reading up about the 4 nappies and have to say I'm shocked! The HV recommends changing 10 newborn ones a day so how can they then say 4 is acceptable! Hope DC does change that.

Hats off to DC for taking time out from hanging round with his mates round parliament his busy schedule but IMO how hard is it to make notes in advance so he can answer the questions on immigration, childcare vouchers, nhs in a detailed way?

It was all a bit half arsed really.

Cant comment on the GB one because I didnt join in.

So, Tory is out, Labour is doubtful, Lib Dems anyone?

some guy - I haven't bhad time to catch up but when you say answwers I suspect you mean responses. I doubt there were many answers to any of the questions.

Riven I have a local journo at the end of my road, should I tell them all about you??? Perhaps that will encourage DC to come and meet you.

Surely given the press coverage leading up to it he would have prepared more. Surely?

Just seems lazy.

I'm a middle leader in a comprehensive school in London. I moved from Ireland 7 years ago and resigned from my job there after I met my husband and decided to settle in London. Planning a family currently but was devastated to learn about my maternity entitlements: 4 weeks full pay before the amount plummets rapidly towards zero when the state maternity weekly amount also runs out. Do you plan to improve maternity pay or to target the public sector, lumping us all in with the middle classes when we barely earn over the higher tax threshold and have massive mortagages? Will you support us or the sky's-the-limit private sector? How can we ensure high quality education delivered by high quality graduates if we're to be priced out of the public sector? All of my friends in the city have a full year of maternity pay at 100% salary. I didn't enter my profession to 'get rich' but I shouldn't be penalised and denied a family life because I chose to work in the comprehensive system, which i believe passionately is the key area that can contribute to breaking the cycles of poverty, disadvantage and disaffection in London and other urban areas.
Kind Regards

Gordon Brown was deffo better

I am really surprised given how much publicity this has been given all over the media

David deffo lost lots of MN votes today IMHO

He could have done much better with some preperation and quicker thinking and most of all by NOT blaming it all on Labour

He should have said what HE was going to do to help us all

Thanks to those who repeated and improved my question on Children's Centres, next time we'll have to ask earlier in any discussion.

Someguy, GB got there early to read questions. Look at the time lapses between his answers and compare the gaps to DC's.

I agree with lambanana. Ok some very specific issues such as the four nappies he couldn't have anticipated, but the majority were about policies which he should have worked out by now.

He's going to be asking us to vote for him in a few months time.

I don't think this thread has been hostile to DC

Hoochie: The HVs thing is BIZARRE. Who on earth wants MORE health visitors? And the thought of Health Visitors replacing Sure Start makes me want to weep

No-one's ever accused me of being a labour activist before. Do only labour activists have opinions?