Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Mumsnet for a webchat

[JustineMumsnet]

Do post your advance questions here.

I didn't understand the tory one tonight

MrJustAbout - yes, sorry, that's pretty much how it's shaping up - can work with Labour but not with Gordon.

Ah, then I am clearly spending too much time on MN et al and have missed them all

Thanks for the replies!

They are NEVER top priority, Octo.

Which is why using opportunities like this is incredibly important to raise awareness of WHY they ought to be priorities - addressed by people who know what they're talking about, rather than by people who say, "Of course, we must support all women to do whatever they want" and then move on - because just saying that isn't enough to make it happen.

And, as I said, I know how to make it happen So by contacting me, Gordon can tick that one off the list and get on with the deficit-ish type things.

Win/win, don't you think?

There was also a labour one done by David Tennant. I don't think they were on enough though.

I didn't expect to get an answer to my question - whether he'd step down to preserve his legacy - but it is an important question and one that he should think about.

However, dreamworld-level answers about Labour governments don't help. Neither, to be fair, do the Lib Dem comments declaring the downfall of Labour.

There was, sadly, also one by the BNP. It was shockingly horrible.

HE ANswEreD me

much better than GOVE who couldnt say when he was ever in a secondary school for a whole lesson
that was a tough one eh ?

I didn't see that one thankfully.

Hang on, what is it with the celebrities doing the PPBs then? I thought I remembered that it was always the Leaders doing them...

I guess it is a sign of the times?

I am still undecided between Lib Dem and Labour. I always thought I'd go Lib Dem, but there are a few points that would directly affect me that Labour seem to have the clinch on.

I don't think he was going to answer me, but I'm glad he at least saw what I think of him.

I don't get the "isn't he a lovely man?" He misrepresents Lib Dem policy time after time, with a gleam in his eye and a little sneer.

I also have a gut feeling that Brown isn't not very good in Europe. If I'm wrong here, put me right, but I just have this feeling that Blair, for all his many many many faults, was better at EU negotiations than Brown. Again, this is a sort of feeling rather than something I can back up, so please put me right if I'm wrong.

I appreciate that he did answer me on running a deficit in the boom years even if I'm not totally happy with his answer. Even if infrastructure needed investment, I need a new washing machine (I have to take my woollens across the street to my very kind neighbour and I try to have her daughter over to play more often in return) but I know I need to wait another year. We need to prioritize our spending into needs (tax credits for the poorest) and wants (like CTF for middle earners like me).

NOOOOOO! In that 'Cameron's Big Society" satire, they;ve used my name! MY REAL NAME as the person who Vote Labour! FFS!

who DIDN'T vote labour!AAAAAAAAGh.

Link doesn't work, onebat

someone used your name without permission

vesela - see here:

think he's pretty good/recognised as such in the rest of the world

abdnhiker, I think the real problem is that Labour's spending is so inefficient that the things we need (good public services) and the (huge) amount that they cost under Labour are two different things. Blair brought in the use of the private sector in a totally inappropriate way that's resulted in companies taking the piss and overcharging way too much for their services without any proper controls or mechanisms to stop them. Then there's the over-centralisation and all the other multitudes of inefficiencies in Labour spending.

Did someone send you the link, Onebat?

That's how... Don't get angry.

onebat - the link didn't work. can you try again?

Seriously, check it out here - you can "personalise" it so it says your name

BecauseIagree - by Patrick Wintour

Sorry, I'm sniggering at the back, too. Although I'm not sitting anywhere near George Osborne. Yuck.

Oh I SEEEEEE. You log into Facebook and it makes the name be whoever you are?? Fucking clever if so? Really? Is that really possible?

All the parties agree cuts will have to be made after the election.

Only the Tories would have made them anyway, are glad of the excuse and will enjoy making them.

I'd rather vote for someone who will find it painful and distressing.