Did you know under Labour's Watch...

[Grigsy]

...you got and could still get £250 for your child under their Child Trust Fund Scheme. Did you know that Mums? It was Labour that introduced the Child Trust Fund. So when your child and everyone elses child is 18 they will be able to join the very few elite that we call 'Trustafarians', you know, the ones that don't work for a living?

Did you know that under the 'Coalition of Cuts' that the Tories and Liberals will bring will mean bye, bye to the Child Trust Fund. So, that means, any more children you have will not get a cheque for £250 to put in whatever account you decide for your little miracle. That sucks right?

OK, want more?

Did you know that Maternity Leave has been extended to 9 months...from 6 months. But did you also know that after 6 months, parents can decide who takes the 3 months. So on top of the Labour's initiative of Paternity Leave (which has been extended to a month now rather than just 2 weeks) - Dad's can have 3 months with their babies when they are between 6-9 months old. How fab is that?! For everyone....yippee, some much needed siesta time for tired Mums...

Under a Labour Government, should we be so lucky, guess what....they want to extend the Maternity Leave to eventually get to 12 months...that's cool.

Also, hope you are all enjoying the reduced Nursery fees that you probably noticed after your child turned 3. Well guess what, that was also under Labour's watch. My fees for my daughter were £457 per month when she was 2. When she was 3 they were £238 per month. I'm delighted. But should the Tories get in, they plan to introduce 'Top Up Fees', so it will be Goodbye Grant and Hello, I'm skint.

Look, you are welcome to join my debate but please before you do, put aside your pre-conceptions and perhaps even get all 3 parties manifestos. You can do this by going online and go to their respective official sites. To be honest, after looking at all 3 my findings were this:

Nick Clegg, Nice but Dim (sorry), it is almost as if they wrote their policies on the back of an envelope at a dinner party. They mean well but seriously we need substance right now. Look at what's going on in Greece. Who do you want to guide us through these harsh times of austerity? We need prudence not wishy washy policies of some man who seems perfectly nice, but seriously, we are talking about the toughest job in the country. And it's not paid as well as you think. Infact, Gordon Brown took a cut of 1/4 of his salary. Sometimes I wonder, has Nick Clegg actually seen a Job Description for the Prime Minister!!

David Cameron - OK, he's got the gift of the gab but think it's very important to remind ourselves of what and who the Tories actually are. If interested, go to You Tube, and watch COMMON PEOPLE 2010.

Gordon Brown - well, as I said before. Here is a man of substance. Here is an unsung hero. Here is a quiet man with a big agenda. Modest, kind, truthful and a human being of the greatest integrity. He is a good man. Why don't you just look at his wife. Sarah Brown. She is a gentle, kind, serene and entirely beautiful woman. She is also highly intelligent and inspirational in many charities and other very important areas. But above all, Gordon and Sarah Brown are parents. They truly care. They know how important the first 48 months of a childs life is. If you don't buy me, then why not find out for yourself. Go onto the Labour Party Offical site. And watch him in action.

Off for a hot bath now

Ta-ra

Happy Bank Holiday!!!

Sarah

x

GB has been like the man down the pub treating everyone after a good day out at the races. Being Mr Generous is easy when you've got plenty of money. But... in case you haven't noticed.... the last few horses he backed really haven't come in at the front, he's overdrawn at the bank, maxed out on the credit cards and he'll be passing the hat round and begging all of us to buy him a drink instead. 'Hello he's skint' to borrow your phrase.

Quite what WAGS have to do with it, I've no idea.

you sound well informed
just to point out maternity leave is already 12 months - i've had 12 with both my 3yo and plan to have almost 12 with my 7mo.

Just as an aside... isn't it Brussels we have to thank for things like paternity/maternity leave regulations?

Chil1234 - It's called a 'GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS'...please don't take it personally.

Excuse me, WAGS? What are you talking about. So rude. She's a fellow woman and a fellow mother who is married to the Prime Minister. She loves her husband. But in her own right, she is an amazing voice for the people. She set up her own PR firm with a friend many years ago which set out to help people help themselves. She is wonderful and why shouldn't I bring up a brilliant woman, after all, we are on Mumsnet aren't we??

Listen, I know it's a crazy time. I live with my husband and we vote differently. That's personally frustrating for me because I would so love Luke to think beyond certain things but guess what it's his choice as it is ours. So this is getting heated because it is heated. Just vote, make up YOUR OWN MIND based on the facts on the here and now, and just get yourselves down to the Polling Station. Nobody needs to even know who your voting for.

x

"Did you know that Maternity Leave has been extended to 9 months...from 6 months. But did you also know that after 6 months, parents can decide who takes the 3 months. So on top of the Labour's initiative of Paternity Leave (which has been extended to a month now rather than just 2 weeks) - Dad's can have 3 months with their babies when they are between 6-9 months old. How fab is that?! For everyone....yippee, some much needed siesta time for tired Mums...

Under a Labour Government, should we be so lucky, guess what....they want to extend the Maternity Leave to eventually get to 12 months...that's cool. "

Sorry, but this is just factually wrong on so many points.

Maternity leave went to 12 months in about 2002 (ok, under labour, but it isn't a future plan). You are talking about extension of SMP. Labour said that they aimed to extend it to 12 months a while back, but that was shelved in the recession. SMP is so low that it does not allow many women to stay home as long as they would like.

The shared provision is 6 months, not three. It is also pretty similar to policies by the other main parties. They differ in the details.

Paternity leave has not been extended. That is an aspiration.

You clearly have strong feelings based on your posts on other threads. But if you are goign to electioneer for Labour (said as an undecided voter), do it accurately.

Oh, and this:

"Why don't you just look at his wife. Sarah Brown. She is a gentle, kind, serene and entirely beautiful woman. She is also highly intelligent and inspirational in many charities and other very important areas"

is, quite frankly, insulting. I don't judge a politician by his wife, thank you very much. I judge him by his policies and his actions. I couldn't give a flying if his wife is 'beautiful'.

Dear Riven

I am so sorry that your little one has epilepsy. I hope you have a good GP and a good doctor you see at hospital? There are some wonderful medications out there. Lamotrogine/Lamictal I think?

Well, you need extra help. It is enough stress and upset to have the heartbreak of a chronic condition. I think you must go and speak to your MP now....the MP that is serving you whatever party.

Sending love

Sarah

xx

Dear Stealth Polar Bear

Hello and thank you - I'm just hooked onto the whole election thing, BBC Parliment has driven my husband and daughter to the park!!

THanks for informing me....I need it! That's great it's now 12 months....already!

Take care

Love

Sarah

xx

Grigsy - have you been here long? You don't know Riven met Cameron, at her house, to discuss her daughter? She's well engaged with politics....

to Chil1234

Maybe, hurrah for the EU then, thanks for the great idea!!

xx

Whether it's a global crisis or one of his own making GB has no money left. His published policy on expenditure/taxation falls about 50% short of what the economists say is actually required. Expect some nasty surprises should he do a Lazarus on Thursday

PS... if you are electioneering for Labour you're going about it very clumsily. The last person who tried to use references to his beautiful, intelligent and 'fragrant' wife to get him out of trouble was Lord Archer. It's not good company to be in.

Yep Grigsy, much as I think Labour have indeed done laods for us, I don't think you're a reg right? You'd know about Riv otherwise I think.

Not that we mind newbies, curse not. But so many have appeared here esposuing polictical messges (Tories too) that it gets draining: we're intelligent enough to make our own decisions.

Oh and much as I liked many labour policies, the CTF thing? Complete waste of money.

Hi Ribena Berry

Are you funded by UniLever?

OK, do you know, I think I will stick to what I know. And this is what I know.

I know that Gordon Brown was my MP when I was a kid growing up in Inverkeithing Fife.

I know that I was the Secretary of the Young Socialists when I was 16.

I know that Gordon Brown offered me a job whenever I got to London.

I know that after I got my degree, I took Gordon Brown up on his offer after the tragedy of the loss of the 1992 election.

I know that when he was the Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary that he gave me a brilliant research project to conduct: the impact on the Environment by Industry.

I know that I wanted to work for him, so I temped 3 days a week in the city and volunteered 2 days a week for him for a year.

I know that he wanted to pay me because he is a fair man. But I was earning enough temping in the City to pay my rent.

I know that years later, when I got sick, in 2000, that Gordon Brown helped me in my time of need.

I know the little I can learn quickly by watching him on his election campaign, the only channel that seems to be showing the speakers speaking is BBC Parliament.

I know I'm knackered as I have my own business, Nostalchick Greeting Card Co.

I know I'm a Mum of a beautiful little girl called Luella.

I know I'm pissed off with my husband as he's just turned from Undecided to Lib Dem.

I know I'm off to the Labour Party Phone Bank in an hour so better get dressed.

Ta-ra

Sarah

x

'But above all, Gordon and Sarah Brown are parents'

Erm all the main candidates are parents.

Jeez, anyone else fucked off with all these people who have joined the site just to canvass for their parties. Grigsy, I say this as a Labour supporter (though not a labour voter in this election) that these obvious and patronising little diatribes from you and your ilk are really getting on my fabulous tits.

That's the beauty of mumsnet, which you would know if you were an active member of the rest of the site, we are all pretty bright and already opinionated and can make up our own minds and find our way to the political websites if we want to.

Dear Riven

Well, firstly, isn't it a good thing that your GP perservered and got a diagnosis. My husband has Pompe - don't look it up, it's horrible - but in anycase, we are in the best hands don't you feel? The NHS just sent a blood sample to check my DNA to NYU, USA to ensure I am not a carrier because should my husband and I be ever able to have another child I will be able to find out if I'm a carrier. I have a poly-morphic GAA gene which could mean I don't have the enzyme like my husband Luke you see.

Pompe in adults is not curable but there are treatments.

Pompe in babies is desperate. I just feel so blessed with my healthy little girl. She is 3 .

Gosh, I'm not sure the BNP would dare to doorstep campaign? I thought they were just desperate to get on TV?

Thanks

Sarah

Dear Sanctimoany

Thank you for your message. Well yes, I'm new. Listen, I don't want to be draining. I just feel strongly and want to connect with other Mums. That's all.

You don't have to take part if it's draining.

I know it's tiring enough being a Mum believe me...

xxxx

SArah, you seem well informed...I'll give you my situation and see if you can help me decide why I should vote Labour, am currently Lib Dem (I live in NW Bristol and so LD/LAb are the two horse race). So my dcs go to a state school and my DH earns enough to pay 40% but not enough to pay 50%, I am a sahm with a view to get my business (importing children's wear) by September. I have four dcs, one of which is pre school age and she goes to a private Montessori three morning a week, dc4 will go in about a year. I am married.

The trouble for me about voting labour is that anything GB talked about in the debates I felt were 'horse bolted' issues that should have been dealt with before not thought up in a desperate attempt to get re elected. I would never vote Tory and feel this coutry needs a change.

Please Chil1234, Chill! Listen, I was lucky enough to be in the same room as Sarah Brown yesterday and she struck me as this. I have no agenda apart from I was dazzled by her. Seriously, the last public figure that did that to me was Diana who I saw quietly leave Kew Gardens with some good friends in 1996. THey share something.

Please hear me with an uncynical mind and kind heart.

x

This is what I posted on your other also unsubtle 'aren't the Labour party so bloody wonderful' thread. Please take note.

Grigsy - stop being so patronising. We are intelligent women on MN who can decide how we want to vote all on our own.

Several of us on here won't vote Labour because we have seen the damage done to defence, education and the economy, and we trust the Tories to sort it out. We also don't like the intrusion of the state into our lives, nor the benefit dependence culture that has built up under Labour. We dislike the databases that are being created, especially Contactpoint, and the inability of the Government to keep that data secure.

You are also assuming that people who post on here receive tax credits and have young children. Lots of us had our children pre Labour and coped without the state handouts that are about today. We have teenagers and I can't see what this Government has done from them apart from make GCSEs easier and raising the cost of getting to Uni. The social engineering that Labour has engaged in here is also damaging. Why should a child be penalised on applying to uni because his parents both have degrees? Degrees I might add that are mandatory for their jobs as a teacher and a member of HM Forces.

My vote will be cast on 6th May, and it will be for the Tories.

Hey Fab Bumperlisccious with the fabulous breasts then!

I know about Mumsnet. Look, my best mate from school who now has a new baby but is also a big noise in the fashion world has told me for years to get on it. Well, now I am. Because this is what I'm passionate about.

Going to be 40 this year, and guess what? I'm feeling pretty good too. So please, let me just get this off my chest to a bunch of brilliant and cool and beautiful and hopefully friendly (??) people?

xx