Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Mumsnet for a webchat

[JustineMumsnet]

Do post your advance questions here.

To everyone asking about the deficit, I?m sorry this answer is quite a long one but it?s important so I want to make sure I cover it in detail. Once we?ve got the economy fully on the road to recovery we're going to halve the deficit in four years and there are three ways we?re going to do it.

The first and most important way is by having an economy that grows well - because a growing economy means more tax revenues and less need to spend on things like unemployment benefit. So, strange as it something seems, cutting spending too early and risking going back into recession, would actually make the deficit worse not better.

Second, I am afraid we have had to announce some tax rises, despite it being the run-up to an election. Now I think it is fair that most of the burden of these increases is taken by the richest, for example the new 50p top rate of tax.

The third is cuts in spending. These will definitely be needed and we have already embarked on making cuts in lower priority areas - and we don't pretend it is anything but painful. University vice chancellors know only too well that we are taking money off them and asking them to be more efficient. Legal aid budgets will be cut and we will spend less on regeneration and housing. Public sector pay will be capped public sector pensions reformed too. But it?s impossible to say precisely how much money the government will have to spend in three or four years time, because that depends on how much the economy is growing. That?s why it?s so important we secure the recovery this year ? and not put it at risk.

can you stop initiating new initiatives (!) in schools please
no more citizenship etcetc

CTF - no, DEFINITELY NOT WORTH KEEPING!!!! We are MASSIVELY IN DEBT, hasn't anyone told you? That is a luxury WE CANNOT AFFORD!

Hello Mr Brown

Good Evening Mr Brown, I will be voting labour on Thursday as without the tax credits system we couldn't survive, however I was a bit concerned that the candidate for my area (NW Norfolk) actually loves in Leicester, how can a candidate who sint local know anything about the local area and it's problems?

Good luck again for Thursday!

whaooo clam easy tiger

What do you consider to be more important during an election campaign: honesty or popularity?

Mr Brown,

Just popped in to say.....

I hope someone has summarised the 'bigotgate' threads on here. Bad luck and shame on Sky; poor, poor journalism and clearly engineered to suit their own agenda. MN is behind you on that one.

I think you are doing an incredible job under very difficult circumstances.

I hope you are able to have some lovely time with your family after Thursday and when all this is over, whatever the outcome.

sorry just thought of a better question so please ignore the other!

What is the point of the trust funds?

If it's uni places then why not abolish the fees?

Would you agree that the majority of your votes come from those who are on benefits?

Can you tell me what you are doing for small businesses once the cuts are made?

Lilybolero - National Insurance has paid for investment in our NHS - what definitely isn't fair is inheritance tax cuts for millionaires as the Conservatives propose. Income tax is now at 20 percent for most people, with a top rate of 50 percent above £150 thousand. Our policy on NI, where nobody pays if they earn under 20 thousand, and pensioners are protected is far fairer than a VAT rise which hits everybody and is the traditional Tory policy.

My husband is a policeman and being paying into his pension for 20 years - would it safe under labour?

Could you please answer as to why you gave away the gold reserves?

Thank you for answering .

Please tell me if you win you will sack the people who tell you to smile first.

You see, this is exactly why I think politics is all about the image and not about the content these days. Britain needs to cut its spending. Unless you have a money cloning machine you cannot achieve everything you would wish to with the debts the country has.

I am willing to vote for whoever will be honest enough to acknowledge that we are going to have to cut education/health/social services/duck houses for MPs. And just get on with it, yes it'll be painful, see Greece for examples. But unless we take some serious measures, we're bust too!

retaining...note to self...check spelling when communicating with Prime Minister

(Justine, how long is the PM here for, please? I'd like to know when I need to start agitating about the Baby Milk Action/protecting babies question I asked - not that I'm agitating now, OH NO! )

I think you are brilliant Gordan! - and it WAS Sue's fault.