Live webchat with Esther Rantzen, Tues, 19 Jan, 2-3pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

We're very pleased to welcome Esther Rantzen as our next webchat guest on Tues 19 Jan at 2pm.

Esther is chair of The Family Commission, the national inquiry into the extended family and the support it needs in the 21st century, in partnership with 4Children.

She became a household name as the presenter of That's Life, and has presented other series such as How to Have a Good Death about palliative care, as well as appearing on I'm a Celebrity and Strictly.

She is the president of ChildLine, has a CBE for services to children and is standing as an Independent candidate for Luton South in the general election.

As usual, please post any advance questions here if you can't make it on the day. And, last but not least, please abide by our webchat rules.

ER - I feel quite teary you thanking us for thanking you. Childline is a hugely brilliant organisation.

Why are you standing against an expenses trougher in a marginal, rather than in a safe seat? You will just split the vote and could let their party off the hook through the back door. And Margaret Moran is standing down anyway.

Why not target Hazel Blears if you want to stand against a Labour trougher, or Eleanor Laing if you want to stand against a Tory trougher?

lovebeing a mummy

Who could ever forget Annie Mizen? She looked like a little old lady with glasses and a brown felt hat, but in fact she was a star! She'd win X Factor any day.

I remember her!

Think I do too, thanks esther

Is my pc broke or is this taking ages?

SatWithABabyOnHerKneeWithASmallWindowOfOppotunityTiggaxx

fabisgoingtobefab, and dawntigga

Yes I am definitely standing in Luton South as an Independent candidate.

My policy is of course anti-sleaze, you would expect that, given I am standing in Margaret Moran's constituency. As she is off sick, but still taking her salary, and although she has done nothing in Westminster or Luton since last May, will have a rich golden goodbye hand-shake, I believe voters should have the right to recall a bad MP, the way Californians recalled their governor.

Also. Because I think it's been neglected, pLutonians tell me nobody listens to them, I want to change that. I go there every day, fact-finding, visiting schools and voluntary organisations etc. I want to work hard for Luton, to improve its image, (I already love the place, but I'm aware some people foolishly put it down. I want to make it a destination town.
Also my guiding principle is informed choice, so whether it be Iraq or the recession, palliative care or the treatment of vulnerable children, we need to be given the facts, openly and accurately without spin, so that we can make the right decisions. Also...maybe that's enough for the moment.

Isn't it incredible how many of us remember 'That's Life' being such an integral part of our childhoods - that shows our ages!

Hi Esther - hope life's treating you well!

Good luck on your election campaign. We need more independents and fewer machine politicians in Westminster.

Of course, Independents can only be elected in a First Past the Post system or similar.

How will you fight against the tyranny of Proportional Representation, which only increases the central power of political parties and whips, would mean a party with 20% of votes would get into 100% of governments, and gives totally dysfunctional Parliaments and coalitions carved up in dodgy backroom deals, like in Italy and Israel?

I was wondering if you have an opinion on the sexism/ageism debate around women on tv? Is tv work more difficult to come by now, despite your vast experience and expertise?

Esther,
Do you believe that tighter communities bring up children better than more disperate / domitory town/ communities?

manfrom

Alas, every time there is this kind of tragedy, (thank the Lord there were no children killed in this case, but could easily have been), the official report says that the information was available to prevent it, but wasn't shared. Why?
It's said to be overwork. Case loads are too heavy. It's said that it's so difficult to attract and retain the best people in social work that we have a profession of young inexperienced people who have to take the most difficult life and death decisions.
The additional factor in this terrible case is that the community knew these boys were being treated worse than animals, and were running wild. I have spent all morning with 4Children's Commission into the family talking about this very problem, how to prevent families from bringing up children who commit this sort of unimagninable crime. I just wish I knew the answer. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. It's a devastating reflection on our inability to protect children.

mumhadenough

Home made chocolate chip cookies

That has just reminded me of something. Soon after we found out about Baby Peter I emailed my local social services to offer my services in any way at all to anyone who needed support. I got back

"Thank you for your email. If you want to be a social worker you need a degree."

I don't want to be a SW as I would want to bring all the kids home and would be far too emotional having been brought up in the care system and had SW who moved me from where I was happy and settled to another place where I was very unhappy and abused.

vinegartits

Joe Swash, and I was fond of all the rest equally, (unless you get me drunk and I tell you the truth)

Name the date and place!!

Ladyblabla

When I was in my mid-thirties, a very senior man in the Beeb told me I could carry on as a presenter until I was forty, at which time the wrinkles would get in the way. In fact I carried on with my talk show until I was 62, but I must admit that seeing myself recently on All Star Family Fortunes I thought I looked like Dot Cotton on a bad day. So maybe I'm as ageist as anyone!

Remember the soda stream dogs ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OfbpHLbFUI

WRT to fab'scomment

I desperately would loveto be a SW, I have a degree and I am doing a related MA. The local Uni only offers FT courses, which as a carer is effectively barred for me.

I know I would be a great SW, but cannot find a way of doing it. More flexibility for learning has to be the key. Funded part time learning and I'd be applying like a shot.

prettybetty

Bullying can be a nightmare. I say "can be" because years after my son left school he revealed that he had been bullied for three years. I was appalled and asked what effect it had on him. He said "It made me who I am today" I said "Which means?" He said, "I learned that if you can roll with the punches, not take yourself seriously, and never show them you're angry or distressed, they get bored and leave you alone." But then he said "But then I was never targeted.
It's the children and people in the work place who are targeted who really must be protected. Bullying is the biggest single problem children bring to ChildLine in terms of numbers, and our volunteer counsellors says the bullying calls are among the most difficult they have to deal with. We must have effective, accessible anti-bullying policies in schools and in the workplace.

TBH, as regards this next General Election, I think a lot of people - especially those who work for their living - feel very dillusioned and probably won't even bother voting. How does my vote count? It doesn't.

We're a struggling family of four. Two young children in school, DH works full time, I work part-time....we have bills coming out of our ears, a mortgage, etc etc....I dread to think what our gas bill is going to be this quarter (we're not over 65 so get no allowance), DH is having to pay almost £10 for a prescription charge this week (we're not on benefits) and our Council Tax is due (we don't get housing benefit)....we pay for everything and at full cost...and we're struggling...

People like us feel very left out...unless we're on benefits or elderly we do feel we're subsidising those that are and its hard, very hard.

Have you visited lucy farm yet and did you need a police escort?

What do you do when the head won't acknowledge there is bullying in school when you know there is as your child has been a victim and children have been removed from school in another of your children's classes because they were being bullied?

Greyskull

Good question. I don't know the answer, but the Family Commission have put together a survey which asks that question among others, so maybe you can tell us. Pardon the plug, but I'd love you and anyone else who cares about family life and would like to campaign for better support for families, not just monetary, but any way that occurs to you, to take part in our survey. You can find it on-line, on www.thefamilycommission.org.uk/survey

Ta.