So what will you be asking politicians about?

[EggcentricaGallumbits]

When they knock on your door?

What colour pants they have on?

I don't know, am sinking into mid-life political apathy

That is a good question.

Hmmm.

It's a Lab vs Lib Dem shoot out where I live, so if it's either of them ...

...what they are going to do about improving schools in the neither-very-posh-nor-very-downmarket area where I live.

...what they are saying about the proposed closure of the local hospital (Whittington) A&E and maternity unit.

Oh yes, and what are the latest plans for Ally Pally, which is near where I live.

If it's Cons, who stand no chance round here, I think I won't waste my breath.

I will be asking about Surestart, Tax credits and the future of DLA. Those are the things that are important to me and my family.

I dont expect straight awnsers, but you can only try!

Good thread - DH and I were just talking about what killer questions we should have prepared! We are in a three-way marginal (Watford - currently Labour) so hopefully will get quite a few of them round.

DH thought of:

What will my professional life be like under your party? (he's a secondary school teacher).

Why do you think you'd be a good MP? (to probe their personal attributes).

Someone inspire me about other things to ask!

How are they:

going To re-invent the social system which is dragging this country down.

Start helping those who want to acheive and dont want every continual free hand outs.

As a farmers wife - we are selling all stock as its a waste of time - how are they gonna stop the SUPERMARKETS CEOs controlling the buying habits and food costs. Mr Tesco who was shacked up with Blair - Computers for school - nice one!

Helping working parents afford childcare especially those who are lower middle income not just the lowest.

Controlling immigration and proper intergration.

Values and morals back into schools also sport edu has gone to the dogs. Cooking from scratch from 5 year olds to 16 compulsary before this country explodes.

My list will go one but this country is going to the dogs...put back the GREAT in GB!

If my MP dares to knock I'll ask him why for all his campaigning against the 3rd runway at Heathrow he bottled it and voted against a Commons motion urging ministers to reconsider the proposals.

I agree with bacon on one point, definitely, which is the cooking in schools idea. I don't mind if it's in the curriculum or in an afterschool club.

I like Wigeon's question of 'why would you make a good MP?' Quite hard to answer that well without coming off as a bighead.

An academic university year, even in a top uni can be as little as 24 weeks.What value for money are the government getting from the time the lecturers are spending at work.A survey shows 60% of graduates are working in non degree related fields and feel abandonned and demoralised. Can we change the system it isnt working.

how do they feel about voting against their party? that's a vote winner to me - feeling more strongly about their constituents than the whips.

I want to know how I am going to help my children go to university.

I like the one about how a change would affect my professional life. Can also drop in a Q about improvements in maternity services.

Funnily enough I was talking to DH about this today - they don't canvass where we live, rural community, staunchly tory in the majority. But if they did, I think I'd ask them how they plan to balance the needs of our community with limited resources.

Plus: 'what are the most important things a politician can do for their community and what are the most important things a constituent can do?'

definitely worth going to a hustings if you can, and asking questions there. It gives you a good idea of their personalities (and public speaking abilities).

in case you're out when they call round...

I live in a Lib Dem constituency, and Labour are in second place. I really hope the Conservative candidate (IMO the Conservatives have no hope in my constituency) comes round because I want to ask him who I should vote for.

LindyLou - many Universities are 'research-led' Universities - that is, their primary focus is intended to be doing new research, which might be on genetics, chemistry, plant sciences, etc. Teaching at these Universities is still important, but it has to be carefully balanced with the new research. If you think of someone researching into new cancer drugs, for example, you'd probably want them to spend most of their time looking for cures, and some of the time teaching a new generation of researchers to come after them. If you look at how University departments are funded in research-led Universities, the money comes in largely from the research, and much less from the teaching. So to think that lecturers aren't doing something worthwhile when they aren't with students is to get it back to front. If anything, you might say that we're wasting some people's research skills on teaching students who are not yet at a level to need that specialised a teacher.

Clean clothed, ho ho.

I know someone who joined all three political parties because he took living in a democracy seriously. He met all the local politicians at their annual meetings and went to their Christmas Dinners. I don't know who he voted for in the end, but each party asked him to leaflet his village. So he put Tory, Labour and Libdem leaflets in a bundle of 3 through each door. A great labour-saving device.

MrsB - I thought that the Whittington had just got a new maternity unit? Or a new MW led unit?

Well if it is Labour, Liberal or Conservative I will question them closely about how they see their education and NHS policies affecting Scotland. I will keep on for as long as I can and try and entice them in for a cup of tea. I will insist that they then speak to my husband.

If it is the SNP Candidate, then I will be on the doorsteps with her and will not chap my own door unless we need a comfort break.

BTW L,L&C will not call at my or any other door here as they no longer have enough activists prepared to turn out. Most candidates will put out a leaflet, which will direct you to a website where you can post questions and hopefully get a reply.

Well, my main concerns are either a bit major for a rural MP (climate change, the global economy) or very local & not under their control (local car parking charges, the badger cull).

Theoretically I would ask about their views on tackling climate change - but in practice it will probably be like the Plaid candidate I met yesterday - he was flanked by two people I know very well, & who are very devoted to Plaid - so I didn't feel like I could sound any thing but friendly & supportive . . .

If its my sitting Lib-Dem MP, I'd ask why he didn't reply to my letters of last year about an important issue. And a follow up question, why he has such a poor record in general of replying to correspondence from his constituency.

I'm going to vote for the young friendly woman who is standing against him because of all this.

My main concern right now is why I am unable to secure a reception place for my son and why my sitting MP has not responded to my e-mail regarding this.

Whether they voted for or against the Digital Economy Bill?

If they voted for, how they can justify it? And where they were during the debate?

If they voted against, what will they do now?

If they didn't bother showing up at all, then why should they keep their job?

If they are a brand new candidate, do they believe that they should listen to debates before making a vote? If not, why not?

I'd like to think that my MP (John Redwood) will actually be doing his own door-knocking this time.

At one election (I was still a SAHM, so I think it must have been 1992)he sent a party worker to ask 'would you like to speak to John Redwood?'. I nearly asked how much it would cost, but I restrained myself, and we had a rather bland little chat about traffic problems.

I've never seen him canvassing since, so I'm not sure whether this was his normal practice, or whether he was intimidated by the board bearing a Labour poster firmly planted in the middle of my neighbour's lawn...

I asked our labour candidate (the only one who would dare knock in this area) what he thought people really spent their health in pregnancy grants on (we live in an area where they really do need to be spent on healthy eating) wouldn't that money be better spent on supporting new parents after the birth eg feeding support, parenting skills, HV training so they are of some sort of use.

He agreed that his wife only managed to feed until she left hospital but wanted to talk about the economy. Round our way interest rate can go up and down, folk are still skint.