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

357 replies

JustineMumsnet · 18/11/2009 10:15

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?

OP posts:
onebatmother · 18/11/2009 13:39

oatcakes and marge again? The poor wee dear.

WilfSell · 18/11/2009 13:40

Ladyblablah

But is that libellous about Murdoch?

WilfSell · 18/11/2009 13:42

But LadyB, you do know she only reads out what the govt give her, right? Because a MNer could never mistake the State opening of parliament, for the Xmas speech. Oh no. That would never happen, us being political bellweathers and all.

LadyBlaBlah · 18/11/2009 13:44

Well, if it is I would enjoy the court case.

morningpaper · 18/11/2009 13:45

Do you know, I'm so thick that I've never heard the phrase bellweather before. Is that a terrible admission?

I'm going to have to Google it.

morningpaper · 18/11/2009 13:47

We've been spelling it wrong. It's bellwether. According to Dr. Google etc. Wiki say (NB This article is about bellwethers in general):

"A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings.

The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram (a wether) leading its flock of sheep. The movements of the flock could be noted by hearing the bell before the flock was in sight."

ronshar · 18/11/2009 13:47

I am a mother but really I feel insulted that any political advisor idiot thinks that I will vote according to who flings the most money at my children.

I want to see our elderly looked after properly by people who can speak the same language as them. It dosent matter where they come from but it is shit that I watch old people struggle to get by because of a carers lack of English language skills.

I would like to see a real debate on immigration. I would like somebody to stand up and sorry, we know you didnt want your lovely little village to turn into a mini Somalia,Poland, Romania, Nigeria etc etc, but this is what we will do to help everyone live TOGETHER.

I would like to know just how, exactly we are going to save our next generation from paying more tax than ever before because of mistakes made by THIS GOVERNMENT and this Prime Minister when he was Chancellor.

I want to see a good education for every child, in EVERY school. Regardless of where it is in the country they live.

I would like to see alot more effort put into renweable energies. Did anyone watch spooks?? I know it is made up TV nonsense but it could be closer to the truth than we like to think!

I want to see less people going to university then maybe we wouldn't have a whole generation of stupid twenty somethings thinking that a 3rd in Media studies guarantees them a 100K job.
Right I have a baby to get out of bed and children to pick up from school
Ps I will vote conservative because I would rather die than vote for a government who thinks it is ok to let that power hungry turncoat Mandelson into our lives again.

edam · 18/11/2009 13:49

V. good points about other issues beyond family-friendly policies being important - for me personally the NHS is pretty darn near the top of the list but I can't say which party is best on that, unfortunately, as Labour have done an awful lot of mucking about/hidden privatisation as well as putting in the resources needed after decades of starvation.

The money that has been and will continue to be wasted on PFI and independent sector treatment centres is just staggering.

Would also like to see the public sector pay bill at the top brought under control. It is ridiculous that there are so many people paid from our taxes earning more than the flipping prime minister. Let alone those further down the scale - my council has six directors paid well over £100k. Including those who manage failing departments.

Making councils give a toss about their electorate would be a good start. No-one round here ever voted for such inflated pay especially when SS are cutting back support for the elderly - and contracting out work to companies that don't bother to turn up, leaving vulnerable people without anyone to get them up or feed them all weekend.

WilfSell · 18/11/2009 13:51

There's something strangely comforting in the idea of MN as a horny animal with no bollocks making a noise to lead a herd of docile sheep...

MadameDefarge · 18/11/2009 13:52

Its the younger Mr Murdoch who has decided to out-do his pa in king-making.

morningpaper · 18/11/2009 13:54

I'm sure you mean horned

but as you were

FlorenceandtheWashingMachine · 18/11/2009 13:54

They're all a load of numpties. Shall we stage a bloodless coup and introduce the might of Mumsnet to the international poltical arena?

Women (and Uniquiet Dad) of Britain, unite and take over!

edam · 18/11/2009 13:55

I don't think her maj is particularly to blame for inequality, tbh - it's the bankers/management consultants/PFI fat cat nouveau riche and some members of the upper middle classes who bother me. With their sense of entitlement and being far more important than anyone else. Your genuine aristocrats aren't too powerful these days and generally have better manners to boot.

Will any party promise to tackle the shocking growth in pay inequality over the past two decades? A chief exec used to be worth X times the average wage in his (and it is usually his) company. That multiple has shot up to something like 40x instead of 20x. (Can't recall exact figures). The bosses award themselves fat pay rises even in years when profitability and performance are down.

See Adam Crozier - the highest paid public employee, who is bitching about workers paid tuppence ha'penny. Sacking him might do an awful lot for industrial relations AND save the Royal Mail a pretty penny as well.

policywonk · 18/11/2009 13:55

The idea of Cameron running the country while James Murdock whispers in his ear makes me want to...

slug · 18/11/2009 13:56

Are they right to think you're swing voters?

Have you actually read some of the political threads here?

Have you decided who you'll vote for yet?

My only decision is definitely not Conservative.

Does this Queen's speech seem very political to you?

Given that the queen's speech is an integral part of the parlimentary session, making a fuss about it's existence this time round seems jut blatant electioneering.

I also wish they would just leave schools alone. It may seem like a good vote catcher, an issue parents would be interestedin, but honestly the system has been tinkered with enough. All these changes cost money and take years to embed, just in time for the politicians to introduce another vote fishing tinker.

Are you convinced by the Conservative Party?

You are talking here about a party whose front bench is less than a quarter female, who are predominantly privately educated millionaires, who honestly think there is nothing wrong with expecting the taxpayers to fund the cleaning of their moats, the draining of their tennis courts and the provisional of housing for birds that is, quite frankly, more luxurious than a fair amount of social housing.

How on earth an I supposed to be convinced by these people? How many of them really have an inkling of what life is really worth for the vast majority of the country? Look at how they villify a woman for daring to have an affair yet practically cannonise Alan Clark?

They don't represent me, my friends, my family, my colleagues nor anyone I know. I've yet to be convinced they are anything other than a group of public school boys with a well disguised disgust of women and a secret belief in their divine right to rule.

ZephirineDrouhin · 18/11/2009 13:56

Agree with others that "family issues" only form a small portion of the political concerns of parents. We probably have a more pressing interest than most in issues of social and environmental sustainability, given that we are generally more concerned about our children's future than anything else.

policywonk · 18/11/2009 13:56

Sorry, I do know how to spell Murdoch, honest...

FlorenceandtheWashingMachine · 18/11/2009 13:57

I heart Slug.

tvaerialmagpiebin · 18/11/2009 13:59

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?

Why would you think that? Because we're just a bunch of mums who are swayed by whichever politican wears the prettiest tie? We'll vote for anyone who votes our child "prettiest tot on Facebook" or whatever?

I think you seriously need to establish what you want from us and check out the Mumsnet Census so you know what demographic you are dealing with. Sorry to be harsh but why should you fill up your programme with a lot of no doubt biscuit-related sniggery stuff about "what mums think"? I'd like to think that politicians of all parties were targeting their policies at everyone with a vote, actually.

Have you decided who you'll vote for yet?

I live in a relatively marginal Labour constituency. I know my MP is a man who wants to make a difference to people's lives and he doesn't make bones about making things better for everyone whether they voted for him or not. My grandfather was for 30 years a Tory local councillor who was Sheriff and deputy mayor. Despite his party's politics, many people in his ward voted for him because he got things done for them without any huge political spin. I would like to see all parties agree on a few basic non-political policies which they will all follow, and stuff arsing about being rude and childish to one another in the Houses of Parliament. People are quite rightly put off politics by all that juvenile baying and frankly infantile behaviour.

I will probably vote Labour because I am socialist with a small s by temperament. I do not agree with all the Labour party's policies but their general intention seems to be to suit what I believe in and choose to stand up for.

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

Again, just because we are mums does not mean we vote according to whoever promises to give our nursery more Duplo.

Does this Queen's speech seem very political to you?

No I feel sorry for her having to be the mouthpiece every year of things she probably does not believe in. I don't see the point of all this dressing-up and pretence.

Are you convinced by the Conservative Party?

I would like to think that David Cameron is as sincere as he appears, however I could not vote for him as his party does not stand for the things I believe in.

Sorry this has turned into a bit of an essay!

tvaerialmagpiebin · 18/11/2009 14:00

P.S. Slug for President!

GentleOtter · 18/11/2009 14:04

Very little if any of it was relevant to Scotland...

LeninGrotto · 18/11/2009 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

choppychopster · 18/11/2009 14:14

Well said Slug!

edam · 18/11/2009 14:15

wonder whether Newsnight is also asking other 'internet mums' on places like netmums.

Would hate to think ickle fluffy bunnies with tickers will decide the fate of the country!

CiderIUpAndSetIFree · 18/11/2009 14:20

Am I a swing voter? I'd probably consider swinging beween labour and lib-dem (ooer). But like many of my demographic (ie anyone who was a student in the 1980s) don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to vote tory.

Ishoos that are important to me would include initiatives that would make it easier for parents to work from home.

You might consider this a 'parenting' issue, but actually it touches on a lot of other stuff.

Benefits being:

  • it's eco-friendly
  • massively reduces stress of childcare/school drop-offs and pick-ups, improving health (eg more likely to walk than take car)
  • reduces car accidents
  • reduces peak time traffic
  • parents have more time to engage with their local community (having saved heaps of time which otherwise would be spent commuting)
  • engaging with local community increases social cohesion
  • engaging with local community affords networking opportunities for those seeking additional work
  • less time spend with odious colleagues, thereby reducing stress and NHS bills

Sorted innit.