Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Mumsnet for a webchat

[JustineMumsnet]

Do post your advance questions here.

blucardi - that's definitely unfair. Local conditions vary, which leads to some differences. Beyond this, have you heard of NICE?

captainnancy I'm not schools, I'm social care- one of the PITA people organising the meetings!

abdnhiker - some years we ran a surplus and repaid debt but the best policy in my view is to allow borrowing for investment, which means we were able to build schools, hospitals and our infrastructure which supports industry and jobs.

Neenz its terrifying for me to vote this is the first general election I've been able to vote in I want to vote for who will do the best for my family but seperating the lies from the reality is a hard job!

Thank you very much indeed, Gordon. I really do think you have the very best intentions with regard to your job and the country. I look forward to hearing from you. I really DO have the answer, btw

In fact, MNHQ - can you pass on my RL name email address to the PM, because I will feel somewhat of a plum communicating as a misspelt bad mouse with Mr Brown?!

I don't keep posting what about me I repost the question, this man has been at the heart of this government for 13 years and this question has never to my mind been fully answered.

Greece has been down graded, when UK loans come up for repayment if we had more gold reserves we may be less at risk.

This question will not come int a common theme although another poster has supported it.

I have followed the chat and may have posted a few questions I have one.

I am not Mumsnet royalty so it appear I get told off Iam just an interested citizen.

LOL hunker, that is shameless

Overseas aid and development funding appears to have reduced during the time Labour has been in power, is this a trend you will continue with?

Gordon - I think the increased focus on SEN by Ofsted is excellent. However the inclusion of attendance as a focus is a total nightmare for many parents of children who miss school for reasons not related to truancy. What can be done about that?

Great news on BFing! There needs to be more support for BFing mothers in hospital in the very first few days of the baby's birth.

I have heard too many stories of midwives telling mums their babies need formula less than 48hrs after birth .

Does the NHS give free formula on postnatal wards when the MW says a baby 'needs' it?

gordon, you actually promised a referendum is 97 as you well know. and have watered down and ignored the jenkins commision recommendations.

is your last answer a pledge??? do you promise? a referendum by 2011 (tbh, given the state of the polls for you to promise this now is a bit rich).

thank you very much for answering my question though.

I feel passionately about the iraq war, new labour being in big business/arms trade's pockets...i feel unbelievably betrayed honestly.

If labour could return to real socialist, DEMOCRATIC principles, they'd get me back.

Noo VPA - you can tell he's not - I think these incredibly honest and straight answers. I knew GB was a good 'un

and jokes too! I am loling at second apology of the day.

blucardi - the NHs isn't a bottomless pit of money, difficult decisions have to be made locally.

I agree maltesermuncher - GB's biggest strength is that he genuinely cares. There's really no doubt that he cares about inequality - Bullingdon boy, not so much.

Hunker - would you be Ok for us to give Greg - Gordon's health advisor - your email address ? He'd like to get back to you on Gordon's behalf?

sorry you promised a referendum IN 97 not is.

swingvoter - NHS, schools, policing, jobs and securing the recovery. I think we are the only party with the serious policies for these priorities and the only party able to achieve the fairness that brought me into politics in the first place.

Mr Brown why are there so many managers in the NHS, and what seems like fewer and fewer front line staff?

Are you going to scrap the childcare voucher scheme? If you are keeping it will you consider allowing the self employed to use it, or give them an equivilent 'child care tax exemption'.

I know many people who are self employed and the CTC can be very difficult for them to use with fluctuating income. I don't claim anything yet if my children were not in childcare I wouldn't pay lots of tax and charge VAT for my services.

Theresa May has announce that she would 'consider' changing the law to allow gay civil partnerships to be renamed as marriages.

Gordon Brown, would your party consider this?

Re Hunkermunker breastfeeding question and GB's response. Think it needs more than a strengthening the regulations re marketing.. we need to change our culture to be more accepting and encouraging of breastfeeding.

decafgirl, it has been shelved for now. Gutted.

I see nymphadora! Well just take fewer children into care then, solve the problem on both sides!

Yes, please, Carrie - have just emailed you, in fact! Thank you!

MNHQ you can pass on my email address to GB just in case he and Sarah fancy popping in for a cup of tea on Friday when they have more time on their hands .