Labour leadership hustings - on Mumsnet!

[GeraldineMumsnet]

The Labour leadership election is coming up, so we're putting on our very own Mumsnet hustings. We've invited all five candidates - Diane Abbott, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham, Ed Miliband and David Miliband - to submit to a proper MN grilling.

We want to send the same ten killer questions to all the candidates, so, whether you're a Labour voter or not, please post your killer question of choice here.

They can be as serious or semi-serious as you like, but up to usual MN-piercing-and-incisive standards please - as ex-leader Gordon Brown put it: "You [Mumsnetters] certainly ask more difficult questions than television's Question Time or any other question time that I'm part of."

(To avoid any accusations of favouritism by other politicians, we'll cover the biscuit question as a starter for ten ).

We'll select the ten questions that seem to be the most recurring/insightful and give each of the candidates a week to respond to them.

We'll then publish all their responses so you can compare and contrast. We're hoping they will come on to Mumsnet on Monday 6th Sept from noon to 1pm to talk about their answers in more detail.

So far, David Miliband and Andy Burnham have said yes; Ed Miliband, Diane Abbott and Ed Balls have said yes in principle. We'll update the thread as soon as we know who else can make it.

BTW, the ballot results for the new Labour leader will be announced on 25th Sept.

Over to you...

Do you think that is too controversial?

On the subject of Iraq:

"are any of you insomniacs?"

Do any of the candidates want to confess to lying to the public during the Labour Government years?

Please ask Ed Balls to answer first.

If you could reverse just one coalition government policy what would it be?

Graduate Tax - As mentioned in an earlier post all but DM are for this policy. One of the main issues facing the UK is the buy now pay later culture (forcing the UK Govt to bail out the banks largely down to this behaviour).
How does a tax on the future earnings of graduates pay for HE now? and encourage people to invest now in their future? The problem with the system is funding. My preference would be variable funding for degrees, a degree for necessity rather than it being a nice course. A graduate tax will also not address the challenges faced by bright students from poorer background.

Childcare - The CON-alition have declared that middle income earners do not need tax credit support. How do each of you plan to lead the opposition on this point? Esp as many key workers are on threshold for the first cut to £40k and they are having pay frozen/cut, pension contributions increases and fighting to keep their jobs.

Economy - Mistakes were made with the selling of the gold (when there was no need), but why did the labour party not include the positive/necessary side of taking large % in the banks? a) these are now businesses making money, b) Northern Rock being ahead of its planned re-payment schedule etc c) the dividend rules of the banks with Govt stakes d) no banking system = UK meltdown. Shame that the election wasn't after the April-June outcomes.

Social Justice - To me the back bone of the labour party has been social justice, and through my work I have had the pleasure of seeing an NDC area re-balance to the rest of the City of Leicester. Yet the Social justice agenda of the Labour party seems to have lost its way. How do you plan to re-invigorate the debate whilst the Tories (backed by the SUN) are rolling out every person in the UK who lives comfortably on benefits?

Crime - Kenneth Clarke has indicated that prisons don't work and re-habilitation is the key. What is your view on this issue esp at a time where community service provision is also likely to be cut.

A generation of Labour government did great things for personal equality in this country and disastrous things for the economy. What would you do to raise money for this country rather than spend it?

We've just heard that Ed Balls is joining us for the hustings on the 6th September - so it's just Ed Miliband we're waiting for....

And can we take this opportunity to remind everyone of the webchat guidelines; 'You're free to voice your opinion, but do be civil/polite - please afford our guests the same cordiality you would if they stopped by your own house.'

So, if all of the coalition cuts so far have been wrong according Labour, what would you have cut next year to make up Aliaster Darlings predicted 20% cuts?

Why didn't that get cut while you were in office?

Do you think a certain race of mother (e.g. west indian) is more committed to their children than any other race of mother?

Ah yes.

Just reminded me of Gordon Brown stopping by Gillian Duffy's house earler this year.

A treasured time.

How do you plan to improve the lives of disabled children and their families, at school, home and in the community? This includes reform to the current postcode lottery SEN Statementing/ funding system.

'You're free to voice your opinion, but do be civil/polite - please afford our guests the same cordiality you would if they stopped by your own house.'

I wonder, would any of the candidates invite Damien McBride back to their houses?

Okay, have given this LOTS of thought so here's my tuppence worth.

Leadership Qualities
I would like to echo an earlier question asking what life experience or moment in your past caused the epiphany that put you on the path to being an MP? OR .... What experience or ethos guides you and makes you the prime leadership candidate?

Disabled Children
Also, as a parent of a disabled child, (and there are so many of us on MN), what do you feel were the key improvements made to our families while Labour were in power and which would you like to further develop in the future? (intentionally trying not to lead anyone here :-D ) And what do you think of the medical testing for all DLA claimants?

Your Future
Finally, as this seems to be in the spirit of a job interview..... Where do you see yourself in five years time? ;-D

How are you going to improve the education of children with special needs? Currently, parents have to fight/pressure their local authority to ensure that their children get the education they need. You only have to read the special needs discussions on this site to see this. I am also concerned that children with a vast range of diabilities are taught in so called special schools. It is my experience that these schools are ill equipped to deal with the array of complex needs thay currently deal with.

Susiesheep , I have been trying to get an answer to those questions from the Labour Party leadership for the past 2 years.....I actually wrote G>Brown 52 letters on this subject and never ever received a direct response to my concerns regarding the Occupation of Palestine....I don't think the Millibands will answer yourquestion. Diane will!!!!!! The other 2 are even greater whimps that the Milly boyz!!!!!!

@walksfarwomen
I really don't understand why its allowed, but all political parties seem to be involved, their is a Conservative Friends of Israel too, although with less high profile MPS than the Labour Friends of Israel -

I really want to understand WHY this is even the case in the first place - no other "county" of whatever - has this kind of political lobby group. Does it all just come down to money? Have they MPS sold themselves, or is there a good reason for it?

Surely if we are looking for world peace, we need to start in the middle east - and from what I understand you don't enter in to serious negotiations when you have already blatantly chosen a "favorite"?

Very odd if you ask me at best, and at worst corruption of the deadliest kind.

Are you going to legalise drugs? Why? Why not?

After 13 years of a Labour government why is the gap between rich and poor still increasing.

The Labour government has poured lots of money into schools but why is there still such a big gap between the best and worst secondary schools. In my area Bristol there are still some schools where only 22% of pupils achieve 5 or more GCSEs including English and Maths whereas other schools achieve 85% pass rate. This is not acceptable.

The Labour government has increased spending in the NHS but has this gone in better frontline patient care or management and bureauracy ?

Given that Oxbridge graduates have a significant advantage in terms of overall earnings compared to graduates of other universities should they be charged higher fees / pay higher rate graduate tax ?

I was a labour voter but feel very let down by labour's record in governement. What vision do the candidates have for the future of the labour party in future and how will that differ from the last 13 yrs. What went wrong is interesting to think about but maybe the question needs to be how they plan to address the current problems facing the country.

"What went wrong is interesting to brush under the carpet think about but maybe the question needs to be how they plan to address the current problems facing the country."

Haha. As dear Tony used to say about any awkward question, "looking forwards ..."

I'd love to ask someone why there isn't any financial support for stay-at-home Mums/Dads? My husband is the sole earner so whatever he earns gets taxed to the hilt. We calculated recently that if we were both earning 50% of his current income we'd be several £Ks better off! Why can't I claim childcare costs equivalent to those given to parents who send their children to nursery/after school clubs?

My question

Why on earth take such a long time electing a leader? It plays into the ConDems hands.