Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Mumsnet for a webchat

[JustineMumsnet]

Do post your advance questions here.

" there is going to be a huge shift in the need for skills in coming years. We will need five million more skilled jobs in the next ten years - and so we will need the graduates to fill them."

Really?, why don't you just bring in more immigrants and leave families to rot on benefits, that's your ethos isn't it?

Do you want me to succeed in my business or not? Shall I just pack it in?

Show me the way for small business support, and perhaps VAT relief for small businesses, and I won't bang on about the appalling state of SEN provision in our area, and why I had to remove my child from a state school to get his needs met (after living for 3 years on the paltry 10K a year LSA's get in London...I could go on)...

I would love some of that opportunity-creating to be targeted at the women who want to breastfeed, but who are let down by appalling "support" from health professionals, Gordon. It really isn't too difficult to create a positive environment in which to nurture the skills and knowledge required to support breastfeeding - I am doing it where I live and all it takes is a new way of looking at it. Interested? Email hunkermunker at gmail dot com and I'll tell you how

Nonnomum - being a parent is the hardest and most important job in the world - and the only reason I ever have disturbed sleep...

What are you going to do to make the country a safer place for our young people.

Labour has been great while my DCs have been small but they are fast approaching adolecence and with all the gun/knife crime and Anti social behavoir, I really fear for their safety

Is more money going to go in to young peoples services to keep them off the street

Riven, the best way to raise your specific case with me is either through the email on the number ten website or to write to me at the address on that website. If you contact me through that route I can make sure your situation gets looked at properly. Please do do that.

I can only imagine any rule like this on nappies is a local issue as I'm not aware of any national rules that limit the support to carers or disabled children, but ill certainly look into it if you send me your details.

Good Evening,

I just want to thank you for everything you've done whilst in government... in particular the HUGE difference the child tax credits have made to my family.

Please be assured of my vote on thursday.

lilmissmummy, I really can't see how you can set a top earning limit for CTC. It should surely be more to do with how many children you have. You could be earning £50k with only 1 child and sitting pretty yet another family could be earning the same but with 4 children, therefore more outgoings.

Good Evening Mr Brown, I would like to know whether the Labour party would propose cutting frontline (teachers, nurses etc) public sector staff and/or their pay?

I would also like to wish you good luck for Thursday and I will be voting for you. I think Labour have made huge improvements for families in the UK and I sincerley hope my children do not have to grow up under a Conservative goverment.

What will the 5 million skilled workers be working on?

Stewie griffinsmum- Don't be ridiculous,

It is because of the reactions I have recieved I hold my opinions.

When I moved to this area as naive as you are.

Like I said, there will of course be exceptions to the HE argument about getting 3Cs.

onebatmother - child poverty is a really important issue so thanks for raising it. We've managed to lift half a million children out of poverty since 1997, through measures like the minimum wage and tax credits. But I think you're right that there's more to do if we're going to reach our goal of eradicating it. I'm committed to protecting child tax credits and Sure Start. We also need to give more opportunities to kids as they get older, for example through one-to-one catchup tuition for those who are falling behind, and guaranteeing a place in education, training or an apprenticeship for 16 and 17 year olds.

"Riven, the best way to raise your specific case with me is either through the email on the number ten website or to write to me at the address on that website."

I thought you were attacking for being presumptuous about being in no 10 after thurday, POT-KETTLE-BLACK .

Oh dear- Janeite...more academies... is that really what you wanted to hear?

Gordon, good luck on Thursday.

I think you are fantastic and I thought you were great in the TV debates, much better than the other two.

also I thought the Bigot woman was a bit of a bigot too so don't worry about that too much.

Do you regret calling Tax Credits "Tax Credits", when so many people seem to misunderstand the fact that they are a redistribution of wealth rather than a rebate on tax already paid?

Hello Mr Brown

I recently discovered to my horror that "looked-after" children in primary schools come with no additional funding whatsoever. Given that teachers are required to attend regular meetings regarding the future and wellbeing of these children (leaving schools to pay for cover etc out of their own stretched budgets) - and the fact that children in care statistically have worse academic and social outcomes - would you be interested in commenting on the imbecility of the current system and suggesting measures you would undertake to rectify it?

Thanks

why do you think we need a Bill of Rights when we already have one - in the form of the Human Rights Act. if the BoR will not include socio-economic right what will it bring that we don't already have in the HRA? (with apologies if I repeat)

Please, if you can, just reassure us that you are confident the party will support you as Prime Minister Leader following the election?

Why has there been continued encouragement of and investment in church schools when the majority of the population do not attend church?

oh god not more academies