Michael Gove - Conservative Shadow Schools and Families Minister - live on Mumsnet this Thursday 29th, 1-2pm

[JustineMumsnet]

Michael Gove is the shadow secretary of state for children, schools and families and a key part of David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet team, responsible for Conservative policy on education and child protection. He is the Tory candidate in Surrey Heath.One of the centrepiece's of the Conservatives election manifesto is allowing parents and other providers to set up schools with state funding, about which there's been lots of discussion on Mumsnet. Other pledges include 10,000 extra university places, allowing state schools to offer the International Baccalaureate and a moratorium on the closure of special schools.Born in Edinburgh in 1967 and brought up in Aberdeen. Before He's married to Times' writer Sarah Vine and they have a son and a daughter, both of primary school age.Please post advance questions for Michael here (and do please read our webchat guidelines if you're not already aware of them).Many thanks.

Damn - I missed it - it looked like a great webchat too - one of the best so far..

Loved 'pokerface' - he sounds a really nice bloke with good commonsense.

and I find that photo of him strangely sexy

Eek...

He didn't answer my question. Will this message get deleted if I call him a ts*r?

MG's always been good at turning a joke or witty debating point (memories of university). When running the country, I wouldnt trust him to get the job done though. He is def one of the reasons why I wont be voting tory.

And that run your own school stuff is nonsense. dd2 has been at one of these run your own kindergartens in germany - it was a nightmare for me!
Hello, I have to keep a roof over our heads, I havent got time to be down at the school running it. I expect well trained professionals to be doing their jobs while I get on with mine.

I'd like to be over the school helping to run it but I have a sneaky that Mr Runs My Own School won't be taking in my SN kids and they will be left elsewhere to fester!

I'm not voting Tory becuase I can't pay any taxes and I think that make sme bottom of their list. Worse, I think it makes m,y chidlren bottom of the list.

(When I say Ic an't, Dh does but no, I suspect, enough)

Oh My Actual God.

Teach First alumni let loose with taxpayers' money to set up their own schools?

Am I the only person that objects to 23-year-olds with just four weeks' teacher training 'lite' being encouraged to do this?

They'll be getting people who've dabbled at a bit of dentistry in their gap year to take out wisdom teeth next.

haha nightby, we MUST have met in a previous life. i always liked gove, i must say. remember him covering the election when major got back in... absolutely delighted while pretending impartiality for sky.

did you know ian and chris and that crew?

BoffinMum - Well, I think our area is going to see the first. My guess is the first few won't be allowed to fail. So it'll take a while for the more, erm, interesting examples to appear.

In the meantime, I'm guessing they will need a lot of money and support to actually make sure they don't fall apart. Money and support redirected from other schools in the area.

lo at run your own school
no feucker wants to be a school governor/.

Aitch - yes, I do.

Gove is a good talker.
IMO, the most genuinely talented, honest and hard working politician from our generation at Oxford is Andrew Mennear.
Though there are several more that I like personally.

(I dont count David Cameron in that assessment, btw. He seems OK, but he only ever mixed with other nobs at Oxford, so I dont know him)

were you at the MN knees up btw? I didnt see anyone I knew, but I thought that as a mn contributor you might have been there?

i was! ahem.

I meant aitch, actually Su! I know you were there.
Agree about the school governers though.

i was invited but it was a bit of a schlep for one night from up here in the end. agree gove a good talker. in fact i probably didn't know him well enough to get beyond that, to be fair, i only knew him a bit. was v surprised when he never came out of closet, for example, our crowd always assumed he was gay, despite girlfriends etc.

I had a backstage view of the union in the aftermath of MGs presidency.

do tell...

Yah MG answered my question and I'm def not new.

Although I always feel that none of the politicians actually give the details of any of their answers. Doesnt seem to matter which party they are from.

I loved the Poker face. Bloody well timed.

What security will you provide for really positive intervention strategies such as Playing for Success that boost confidence and motivation in middle of the road learners?

Please look into why my bright child has not been entitled to his full statement or any help in the school. Barking & Dagenham say funding for special needs does not apply to a child but in general for all children. My child is being made more disabled by this being home taught on part time and part time school due to funding. I therefore have to rely on benefits both becoming more dependant where if things worked correctly my child is capable of then becoming more independant to a degree and so would I. If parents could have a voucher to go with our child per term then it would protect his entitlement.Then unnecessary meetings with appeals for help which never gets you no where only the civil servants wages made bigger with nothing being done.HELP to change this.Also what is the point of statements if it cannot be inforced.