MNHQ Group 2

[AnnMumsnet]

Many thanks for agreeing to take part in this closed discussion thread. As you'll know, you all have an individual user name, separate to your on-site profile. So please feel free to be as open and frank as you like, without your views being read-across to your site profile.

The aim of these discussions is to discover if, how and why women's voting intentions are shifting and what you think about each of the party leaders.

We'll ask a few questions, allow you to think them over, respond, engage in a bit of discussion with other participants, and then we will pop back on the thread. We might want to tease out the reasons behind particular views or opinions and then will crack on with the next set of questions (on Thursday) and one more set over the weekend. Do feel free to re visit the thread at any point over the next week or so. We'll email you when we add a new set of questions.

Here are the questions to get you started

Thinking about when you decide which party to vote for, how important is the leader of the party in that decision?

Why?

What do you look for in a party leader? What makes a good party leader and what makes a bad one? What makes a good prime minister and what makes a bad one?

Thinking about the party you voted for at the 2010 General Election and the party you would vote for now, has it changed?

Why?
Why not?

Feel free to include any thoughts you might have - they don't have to be the conventional, just true to how you feel!

The leader of the party is a factor, but a small one for me. I look at the policies, particularly on education and families and place my vote mostly according to those. I have to like the party leader though, or at least think that they're not a complete and utter tool. I have to be convinced that they are strong enough, charismatic enough or determined enough to see their policies through and deliver on their promises.

I want conviction in a party leader or prime minister. I need them to be strong. I need to be convinced that they consider the country as a whole and what is best for the majority rather than best for a few. And the less 'public school boy' the better for me. It may sound awful but I always get the feeling that they will look out for their own kind, continuing on the rich get richer. A good prime minister leads the country from strength to strength, grows the economy, supports the NHS and education, listens to advisors who are qualified and knowledgeable and uses their advice to make decisions that are good for the people.

Thinking about the party you voted for at the 2010 General Election and the party you would vote for now, has it changed?

I would still vote Labour at the moment because I hate, hate, hate the coalition's actions so at in education. To me these changes have made Nick Clegg look weak and made the Tories look idiotic. Michael Gove has made himself and his party look ridiculous by consulting advisors and then completely disregarding their recommendations and ploughing ahead with his own agenda.

In in my thirties, a teacher, with a young daughter.

DC in my opinion is out of touch with the majority of the population. I think he's a strong eager for his party and I think he has made Nick Clegg look weak since the last election by steamrolling him somewhat but I don't think he is a good leader for the country because I honestly don't think he understands what normal people go through in their everyday lives. My husband and I both work full time, we pay minimal in childcare due to a very very kind nanny, thankfully, because we are currently borrowing money at the end of every month just to tide us over to the next payday and then laying it back. In his eyes, we probably would be classed as fairly well off. We don't claim any benefits except child benefit, we work full time. Why in earth would we be struggling? I just don't think he understands how most families live and struggle. He definitely doesn't understand my family anyway because things are getting harder not easier,

NC came across quite well in the debate previous to the last election and then his policies just did not come through in the coalition at all. I think this had mad him look weak and I don't know that I could trust him to lead the country. Again, he seems to have no understanding of how normal people or families live.

EM is the one I feel like I should like the most, being the Labour Leader but I barely know him. I may or may not recognise him in the street. He seems to hide away instead of stand up and make himself known. For this reason I don't know if he understand what people like me are going through because he never seems to say anything!

A very general answer but I'm not convinced women are heard in politics well at all across the board. It seems like a public school boys club. I don't follow politics closely enough to comment on each party individually here.

For now, I have to trust Labour the best but this is coming simply from thinking about education, which I think, at least at primary, is heavily dominated by women. The coalition are systematically destroying childhood, forcing children to learn more earlier, stay in school longer to try and have the best education system in the world but their logic is heavily flawed and everyone who works with children knows it.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household effectively

DC- Would probably blow the lot on champagne. Honestly I don't think maths or restraint is his strong point.
EM - Would do ok I imagine.
NC - Equally would do ok.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

Difficult Q as our finances are currently pretty comfortable so wouldn't present much of a challenge to anyone. But I can't imagine any of the three living my life. They are too removed from reality.
I think NC might cope best funnily enough as he seems most switched on to the reality of having two small children. EM would buy a load of quinoa porridge for us as it was good for us and make us eat it - we'd then have to throw it away as the kids wouldn't like it! DC would probably buy a load of naice ham from the deli and forget washing up liquid.

But I am not convinced that thinking about how leaders manage the family finances is relevant to huw they run a country.

And ps re other leaders - I wanted to put a word in for Labour's Stella Creasy. V down to earth and determined, she'd be fab. I'd trust her with my family budget and indeed the country.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron?
Ha ha, yeah good luck with Dave, even with both of us working I still have to manage on a budget of £50 a week to buy food, gas and electric. That is probably his DAILY food budget.

And then Nick Clegg?
Probably more chance than Cameron but I wouldn't count on it.

And then Ed Miliband?
Probably the best of the three but lets face it none of them are in touch with every day people. MP's should be paid the average wage. If they are only in it for the money then that is not someone I want representing me.

What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron?
He wouldn't cope at all. Can't quite imagine Dave living on Sainsburys basics and only having one bottle of wine a month as a treat.

And then Nick Clegg?
Again wouldn't have a clue.

And then Ed Miliband?
Still wouldn't have a clue.

What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

Nigel Farage - Not a chance.

None of them would survive on it and lets face it if they did then life for the average Joe in this country would be a lot better as they would actually be speaking from the point of view of the people rather than the elite.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

I struggle to manage with our finances at times because of the stupid way DH is paid (four weekly rather than monthly) so it involves a careful eye keeping on to make sure money is in the right account on the right days. I'm not sure any of them would be in the habit enough or have money worries n their mind enough to always remember to check the balances and outgoings. DC I imagine would be dire because I get the impressions he's never in his life had to think about money in terms of 'can we afford to add 'luxuries' like chocolate biscuits into the shopping trolley. NC seems less like that so would perhaps do a little better. And I think EM would be best at it but I still think he would struggle.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

As above, I think EM would cope the best but I can't rally explain why... He just seems less public school boy, less privileged than the other two. They would all struggle with one of us being paid monthly and one of us four weekly when the bills come out monthly. It takes great budgeting and control when shopping to keep within our means and it's hard. We don't have a last week of the month most months where we're really penny stretching until payday, we have that twice a month a lot of months!

1) So, these days how well or badly do you think the current main party leaders are doing on understanding the issues and concerned facing women like you.
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

None of the current main party leaders understand the issues facing women today. David Cameron is far too concerned with himself and his cronies to be bothered with issues facing women.

Nick Clegg has a powerful wife but he is still removed from an ordinary life.
Ed Miliband seems to be the most normal out of the three, although his policies don't always seem to be women friendly.

2) and how well or badly do you think they make sure or take account of women being heard in their party and in politics generally?
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

David Cameron seems to listen to a certain type of woman, Claire Perry is one that springs to mind. Women who are a bit dim and blinkered, have a cause but not the intelligence to carry it through. I think that DC likes to feel that he's doing the right thing but only if it suits his agenda.

Nick Clegg doesn't appear to be able to think for himself, he gets told what to think by DC.

Ed Miliband has a number of strong women in his team and it seems like he does listen to them

3) Finally for now - which party - if any - do you trust the most to look after the interests of women? Why? And which do you trust the least? And why?
The Labour Party introduced a number of policies in the past to help women work such as free nursery care for 3 year olds and tax credits to help low paid workers.

I don't trust the Conservatives, they don't speak to me.

*How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?*

I don't think DC has lived on a budget in his life, it's very easy to claim to be frugal when you don't need to be.
Our family budget is fairly generous compared to some, we spend about £500 a month on food shopping and manage to eat out a few times a month.
Nick Clegg, I get the impression that his wife runs their household and he's told what to do.

Ed Miliband, I think could manage our finances, I think that we are broadly similar in outlook.

*Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?*

I think Ed would do best and David would do worst. Ed because I think he's been used to living within his modest means and David because he's never had to struggle for money and wouldn't know how to.

I work part time and my wages are used to pay for luxuries with OH paying all the bills, mortgage and day to day spending. I organise the household budget because I am an accountant and there aren't too many problems as I am very organised and have different pots of money all over the place set aside for different things.
once more...MNHQ

My gin spend would increase 4 fold and my wine stocks would be severely depleted. Otherwise I think that MNHQ would do a fine job.

Oh golly, trying to catch up - sorry...

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?

I don't really see much difference between them in this respect. It's tempting to say that because I prefer Miliband's policies, I'd trust him more with my household finances but that's not very rational. They are all from privileged backgrounds and probably haven't had to spend any time living on restricted budgets, so I wouldn't expect them to do it easily... but I don't really feel that the information we get about them from the media makes it possible to make this kind of personal judgement. I strongly disagree with Cameron and Clegg's economic policies but I don't think they necessarily arise from financial incompetence.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

I think most people could manage on my family budget, which is not huge but perfectly sufficient for our needs. All three leaders come from very privileged backgrounds so clearly they would find they had to do without things they are used to having - but again, I don't have the information to judge what decisions/compromises they would make to handle that situation. I'd expect that Miliband has more experience of/sympathy with people from different backgrounds from his own, so hopefully that would enable him to adapt better to a lower income.

Hope this isn't uselessly late, but catching up with the earlier qs:

Thinking about when you decide which party to vote for, how important is the leader of the party in that decision? Why?

Not very important. Voting for the party makes no difference to whether the party chooses to keep that leader or replace them. Because they are very prominent, the choice of leader is a factor which tells you about the rest of the party and what policies they might favour - but the other senior members are just as influential.

What do you look for in a party leader? What makes a good party leader and what makes a bad one? What makes a good prime minister and what makes a bad one?

Policy, policy, policy. Not very interested in personality, tbh. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both seemed to have major personality flaws - still prefer their governments to this one. I'm very distrustful of the impressions we get of individual politicians via the media, which is mostly pretty biased, but even if I had first-hand knowledge of them I don't think it's the most important factor in choosing how to vote.

Thinking about the party you voted for at the 2010 General Election and the party you would vote for now, has it changed? Why? Why not?

Not changed - have always voted Labour, though often as the 'least worst' option, and that's unlikely to change. Might vote Green if I lived somewhere they had a chance but will have the 2010 example in mind of how Tories get in when left-ish vote is split.