The Queen's Speech - Newsnight would like to know what we think of it

[JustineMumsnet]

Good morning Mumsnetters,
Newsnight's Michael Crick is coming to visit and wants to know about what we all think of the government's plans as to be revealed (but of course already heavily trailed) in the Queen's Speech Today.

Here's a helpful summary from the BBC.

So what are your thoughts please?

Hello - It's Newsnight here

What did you make of the Queen's
Speech ?????

We're interested in the idea that it is the people who use this site that the politicians of all parties are targeting at the next election? Are they right to think you're swing voters? Have you decided who you'll vote for yet?
Do you think it is crucial that Labour or the Conservatives make families and child care central at the next election?
Does this Queen's speech seem very political to you? Are you convinced by the Conservative Party?

If you fancy responding to any or all of these questions, we'd be very grateful.

Thanks for taking part in this with us - it's very useful feedback for our report which will be on Newsnight tonight at 10:30

I'm gald to hear that local authorities will be given the lead responsibility for managing the risk of future flooding - makes sense to have this work done locally where people know the lay of the land and problem areas an can react quickly.

BUT - will there be fair and sufficient funding for it? This government is very fond of bringing in whizzy new ideas, or devolving responsibilities down, but not backing it up with the cash. Will councils have to cut money from other budgets to pay for it?

isn't it all basically a bit too late to have 15 new bills? I mean, there has to be an election by June so how would they all go through parliament in that time?

Or am I just being naive?

I think maybe they could have had the pre-budget report a bit earlier so we could find out just how dire/dreadful the economy is...

Is it treasonous to point out that Crown might chip away a bit at the budget deficit? We all know the ones in the Tower are paste. American tourists would be none the wiser.

Gordon Brown was nearly sleeping......

Lenin, we are of ONE mind . Except that you are quicker than me.

It's like we're in some scary socialist Borg commonwealth or summat.

Oh I'm sure they cashed in the real one years ago Wilf.

I'm not a swing voter. I would NEVER vote Tory in a million years. But I think that's probably fairly clear

No reason not to tantalise and poke them though. A govt gets the opposition it deserves. The Labour party need to sharpen up.

Have no idea whether the idea that we are all the 2010 version of 'Worcester Woman' is true. I am a swing voter despite my family having a long history of activism in one particular party. But I live in a very safe seat indeed so my vote will have little impact, tbh.

Families and childcare will have a big part to play at the election, I'd have thought. Are parents a key group of swing voters in marginals, do you think? (Marginals as in likely to be decisive in this particular election.)

I'd like to see the next government, of whatever complexion, being less bossy about families who are doing OK. Fine, fund Dundee and Family Nurse Partnerships for people who are struggling, but stop all the nanny state stuff for people who are perfectly capable of making their own decisions, thanks very much.

Hi Newsnight!

(have they offered you a biscuit yet at MNHQ?)

Yes, I DO think families and childcare should be central to the next election - and about time!

Sorry Newsnight but you need better questions

"Do you think it is crucial that Labour or the Conservatives make families and child care central at the next election?"

Labour OR Conservatives? Or AND?

Of course the answer is yes. These are very important issues. But contrary to journalistic popular opinion, mothers do have brains and principles too. Read the thread. Gender pay gap, climate change, international development, constitutional reform: it's all there

They brought their own biscuits - Hobnobs, Rich Tea and Digestives!

Oh, agree with Lenin that my decision will be about far more than 'family' issues such as childcare vouchers. Social equality, sorting out the banks, civil liberties are far more important IMO (although DNA and other databases are also family issues - I have no wish to see ds when he's a teenager put on a bloody register if he gets thumped by some other teenagers).

Would also like to see a party that will address the democratic deficit in the EU - not just grandstanding about the EU but actually making parliament scrutinise EU directives just as it considers UK law (and do something about the lack of financial controls at EU level, too).

Hello Neil
Personally NOT a swing voter, but my feeling is that many are.

As for families and schools being crucial, I think most swing voters are in the parenting demo aren't they? Both Cs and L have big beady eyes on us and bloody sensible on both parties parts I think.
Personally, schools v important. Not convinced by Tories' opt-out schooling - think many will be left behind to rot. But equally not sure that Lab's populist idea of annual parental surveys is actually useful.

Hello Newsnight

I'm broadly in favour of what the gvt's proposing (but then I am a lefty, and only a swing voter in that I'm not sure whether to go Labour or Green in my rock-solid Tory seat). I like Miliband's energy proposals, I like the constitutional reform stuff (tho there should be a PR referendum). Agree with the financial services stuff - GB should have done it all ten years ago of course, but better late than never. Will be interesting to see whether Cameron wants the Tories to vote against those provisions.

I think it's fair enough for Gordon to try to create clear red water between him and the Tories - whining about the QS being 'political' is plain weird I think.

I'm not personally at all bothered by all the families and child care stuff, but suspect I am alone in that on here

Yeah, but it's not voting methods that mean people don't bother. It's disillusionment. Tinkering around with new ways to vote just opens up vast opportunities for fraud.

Hello Newsnight I might just watch you tonight if you promise to mention some MN names..

What did you make of the Queen's
Speech ????? Well, the fact that it's leaked all over the place ahead of time makes it a bit of an anticlimax

We're interested in the idea that it is the people who use this site that the politicians of all parties are targeting at the next election? Are they right to think you're swing voters? Have you decided who you'll vote for yet?

I'm a swing voter in that I'll vote labour or lib dem depending on who might win against the conservatives in my area. Would take an awfully good performance on here by DC tomorrow to change that view !

Do you think it is crucial that Labour or the Conservatives make families and child care central at the next election?
No. Amazingly, my status as a parent doesn't mean that it is the only thing, or indeed the main thing, that concerns me.

See the thing, all of this stuff - gender pay gap, energy issues, constitutional reform, overseas development, the whole kit and caboodle - it affects families. Some issues have more impact over a shorter timeframe, sure. But I can't imagine a more fundamental issue for my children and my future than keeping the planet viable and the lights turned on. Or making sure that other nations develop into fully functioning and participative members of the world community.

Look, this is a proper bellweather thread I think This kind of thing demonstrates why MN is important in political discussion. No-one does watch/read the Queen's Speech, but that doesn't mean 'ordinary' people don't engage with political 'climate' in an everyday sense: they know what they think etc..

The piece by Turner really focused my mind, not because of what she said, but the massive response in support of her position. Shaping the opinions around the rejection of a populist notion of the 'culture of entitlement' convinces me, depressingly, that the Tories will win.

As ever, it isn't about policies; it's about ideologies.