Adebayor's started so well for Man City
Yr Questions to Cameron, Clegg and Brown
The three men who want to be Prime Minister after the next election are due to be on the programme in the next few weeks in the run upto the May 1st local elections. David Cameron is on the show for half an hour next week, Nick Clegg the week after and Gordon Brown has yet to confirm.
So here's the deal: you can talk live to them by ringing our freephone number 0500 909693 on the day; or you can post a question here and I can put some of those to them, plus you can email your question too - victoria@bbc.co.uk.
So for now, plse post your questions to CAMERON below (I'll start a thread for the other two nearer the time)..
Thankyou
Questions to be asked to the three men who want to be Prime Minister! Firstly - what are you going to do about the state of the NHS? Successive governments have ruined the service and for me this is one of the first things that needs to be looked at and dramatic changes need to be made - it should not be a business (which seems to be failing anyway) but a service for the people of the country. You don't expect to go into hospital with a minor complaint and end up with some kind of dreadful infection/bug. Secondly - the education system seems to be failing many children. Again - what changes would a new leader make here? Then - the third question - crime on the streets. The crime levels and youth crime is unacceptable and drastic changes need to be made. I would be interested to hear what these three men suggest!!!
Managed to listen to part of your show today, Wed 9th April. Was particularly interested in the discussion and views surrounding the controversy over the Olympic Torch and China's human rights problems. I must agree with one of your callers who stated that holding the Games in China would eventually lead to a greater 'opening up' and dialogue between the Chinese people and other nationalities around the world. Matters do change slowly in China and that is not necessarily a bad thing - a good example of how patience and persistence can succeed, albeit at a slow pace, is the charity Animals Asia Foundation. For the past ten years or so they have niggled away at the Chinese Authorities concerning the barbaric and utterley cruel bear farming methods. Slowly and surely their voices are being heard and chinese people themselves are slowly giving support for the banning of this terrible business. I think that the holding of the Games in Bejing will be a good thing providing that it is not hi-jacked by certain groups and individuals who are not open to dialogue unless you agree with their way of thinking.
Shame Gordon 'is yet to confirm'. Given the potential state of the polls he should be gagging to get on your show!
My question to each of them is
'What would your party be prepared to put in its manifesto and also be judged on its success, to enable parliament to be more professional, meaningful and held to account by the voter?'
This relates of course to the question of expenses and who does and does not claim what, but more importantly to the shambolic and unprofessional way in which they conduct OUR 'business' and spend their time trying to score points of each other. If UKplc's were run like this we would be in melt down by now. Do they have any idea how the public views them or dont they care?
We have to put up with 600+ braying donkeys in an old boys club who dont live in the real world and spend their time blurring fact and fiction and telling white lies or asking others to. Many are only interested in protecting 'their mates', or scratching each others backs or looking after themselves and their own interests. Overall they are also hidebound by tradition and refuse all calls for modernisation and still expect people to vote for them!
They are so naive!
Please ask all of the politicians the same question. " do you represent the population or dictate to it?" I dont feel all politicians with few exceptions actually represent us, they spend all of their time telling us, and basically 'being in power' I vote to have my voice heard not ignored, if, and they all surely will respond they are representative, then ask, " if you represent the population, how would you vote on Hanging for child killers" when they all say they will vote against it, you have the truth, they think they know so much better than we do, they rule us, they do not represent the population, massage mix mess with statistics any way you want, but it is a truth, people want hanging for child killers, less MUCH less immigration, No war in Iraq, and quite possibly even getting out of Europe. To suggest we have a vote and can vote out and in people who do represent us is a joke if they can be 'bought' by the whips, bullied and bribed into voting how the leader wants, it is wrong and one of the reasons politics resorts to the politics of fear, and even that is no longer working as most people I talk to do not believe a word they say, dont trust them and in many many cases think they are nothing short of crooks. Tell the truth, represent us, not dictate and maybe, just maybe the people will vote in greater numbers and get involved instead of leaving it to career politicians!.
Please ask all of the politicians the same question. " do you represent the population or dictate to it?" I dont feel all politicians with few exceptions actually represent us, they spend all of their time telling us, and basically 'being in power' I vote to have my voice heard not ignored, if, and they all surely will respond they are representative, then ask, " if you represent the population, how would you vote on Hanging for child killers" when they all say they will vote against it, you have the truth, they think they know so much better than we do, they rule us, they do not represent the population, massage mix mess with statistics any way you want, but it is a truth, people want hanging for child killers, less MUCH less immigration, No war in Iraq, and quite possibly even getting out of Europe. To suggest we have a vote and can vote out and in people who do represent us is a joke if they can be 'bought' by the whips, bullied and bribed into voting how the leader wants, it is wrong and one of the reasons politics resorts to the politics of fear, and even that is no longer working as most people I talk to do not believe a word they say, dont trust them and in many many cases think they are nothing short of crooks. Tell the truth, represent us, not dictate and maybe, just maybe the people will vote in greater numbers and get involved instead of leaving it to career politicians!.
I'd like to ask why it seems that MPs represent their party whips far more than the people in the constituencies who actually elected them.
An MPs personal conscience, party affiliation and beliefs should be minor factors compared to what the local public they purport to represent actually want.
What will he do to return power to the people ? - well, to the taxpayer and those who are genuinely unable to contribute at least.
Chris Turnbull
Shame Gordon 'is yet to confirm'. Given the potential state of the polls he should be gagging to get on your show!
My question to each of them is
'What would your party put in its manifesto and also be prepared to be judged on the outcomes, to enable parliament to be more professional, meaningful and held to account by the voter?'
This relates in part to the question of expenses and who does and does not claim what, but more importantly to the shambolic and unprofessional way in which parliament MP's conduct OUR 'business' and spend their time trying to score points of each other. If UKplc's were run like this we would be in melt down by now. Do they have any idea how the public views them or dont they care?
We have to put up with 600+ braying donkeys in an old boys club who dont live in the real world and spend their time blurring fact and fiction and telling white lies or asking others to. Many are only interested in protecting 'their mates', or scratching each others backs or looking after themselves and their own interests.
Overall they are hidebound by tradition and refuse all calls for modernisation yet still expect people to vote for them!
Why are politicians so dishonest?11 years of Labour and everything has got worse,the only thing that has got better are politician's wages and pension's.It makes me so angry because I do not believe there is a single mp with any integrity.
Hi
Thanks so much for these - do keep your questions concise...plse keep posting..
Kind regards
Victoria
When are you going to start listening to the majority of the population and end willy-nilly immigration - unless by marriage to a British Citizen?
When are you going to dismiss the green taxes as global warming scaremongering tax scam?
When are you going to reward individual freelance contractors by stop penalising them for their efforts by way of taxation?
When are you going to clamp down on dangerous drivers - be it aggresive tail-gaiters to sheer lunacy? We all want average speed cameras to slow people down - ALL THE TIME. And moreover, when will we introduce satellite tracking so we can catch the urban drivers?
When are you going to end crime - properly, by fighting fire WITH FIRE ? Are you going to reject the human rights act that has become a vital weapon and 'get-out clause' for violent thugs.
And finally, when are we going to get a referendum on capital punishment and immigration? If you claim to be listening to the people, then you would give us the referendum.
Question for David Cameron - does a rising tide lift all boats?
Why are young people so incredibly disenfranchised with the current political system? (I am 19, everyone I know and associate with is ridiculously unimpressed with a voter system that legitimizes the so called tyranny of the majority and allows a status quo to develop and continue, Governments who prefer slime, sleaze and spin to dealing with issues that affect the populus and political parties who merge further and further to the centre leaving any choice between policies negligible. Frankly come the general election my participation may consist solely of voiding my card, I don't know if I can face voting for a party especially when my constituency is a modern day rotten burrough, a Tory stronghold and a waste of time.
STUDENT FINANCE. I will leave university in three years time with an incredible amount of debt. This is unfair. What do you propose to do about it?
When will your foreign policy become consistent? Brown refuses to hold the Oympic Torch outside downing street in "protest" against China's occupation of Tibet yet Britain's involvement in Iraq is arguably similar in execution.
Will you admit immigration is useful or at least debate it intelligently rather than scapegoating and scaremongering?
To what extent do you think British society is fragmented? (Devolution, young to old, racial, economic, city and country to name a few) Can its divisions be reconciled?
Is class, in 2008, still a relevant topic?
Is my generation to inherit an economy similar to that of the 70s?
Why do you want to be PM?
Thanks a lot
Jack x
Dear Mr C,
I wonder if you REALLY understand what it means for some households to live on £200 or so a week. If you did, you would have made much more of a case against the abolishment of the 10 % tax rate, instead of which we heard nothing until a week or so ago. You could have ridden that wave for over a year.
Instead of going to the Arctic, perhaps you should spend your next parliamentary break in a council house on some ghastly council estate somewhere and live there with your family for 8 weeks on £ 200 per week.
You would soon realise what life is really like and you may even start standing up for those people, instead of promising things like reductions in capital gains tax to the people who will vote for you anyway.
Regards
Tim Drake
I'm not a UK citizen, but since I feel solidarity with the Scottish Isles (Shetlands, Orkneys and (Outer) Hebrides/Western Isles) me being Faroese, I'd like to ask the PM candidates, what they'd like to do to prevent the desertation of these places and to give new life to these regions.
Questions for Cameron....
1. Does he still have absolutely no idea what his own parties policy on education is?
2. Does he still ride a bike to work?
3. How long has ´óÏó´«Ã½ political correspondent John Pienaar been one of his PR men?
4. Does he appreciate the excellent job Pienaar does for him and his party?
5. How long did it take him to prefect the Tony Blair smarmy smile?
6. Does he still think invading Iraq was a good idea?
7. Although he would be willing to trade with them on a massive scale... Why does he appear to be greatly concerened with the human rights record of China and the goings on in Tibet and Sudan but appears to have no concern about the shocking human rights records of our good friend Saudi Arabia (who we trade with on a massive scale), Equatorial Guinea (owned by the U.S.A) or Libya (despite Lockerbie) to name a few from many?
Europe. No-one seems to talk about it anymore...Why?
And what would Mr Cameron's policy be towards Europe? Greater integration or withdrawal? (I don't beleive the status quo is sustainable)
Mr Cameron,
What is your opinion of the progress of the Zimbabwe election and how would you attempt to resolve the difficult situation there?
Hi Victoria
With Mr Cameron claiming over £20,000 in year 2005 to 2006 for his second home. Surely if he stays an MP long enough he won't have to pay anything towards his house.
When he finishes as an MP., Surely his second home should be sold and all the money the state has put towards it should be returned.
Why should he and his band of brothers benefit so grossly at the countrys expense.
Oh i know why it's because they make the rules.
I really really messed up when i didn't take up politics as a career, no more money worries ever.
Regards
Dave
This country is great if you're a burgular, an immigrant, if you want lots of kids by many fathers, if you're after compensation for almost anything, if you want to not work but still be able to live better than hard working middle class families, if you want to become addicted to drugs or alcohol and KNOW that you'll be well taken care of and so set a message that it's ok to not say NO to drugs, if you don't want to take any responsibility at all for yourself, your children, your neighborhood, if you've no job and in your teens and get pregnant and expect the state to validate your choice to have unprotected sex by giving you huge handouts, if you're a terrorist ect. ect. (the list goes on and on)
Question - Is England doomed? If not why not.
CAMERON: your party continues to give the impression of a group which is monochrome, dominated by people from a very narrow social background and wedded to big business. Despite your Blair-like qualities what is it about you and your party which would qualify you for leading a country which is multi-cultural, pluralist and multi-racial?
It is the case that Labour have made big mistakes. It is the case that Gordon Brown is not 'sexy'. But, how can we possibly trust a party so very removed from the reality of pluralist Britain which is inhabited by British people surely seeking to move towards a genuine meritocracy. Is it not the case that your party is a hindrance to that vision? You just don't reflect the country.
How would Mr Camerons goverment help me?
The present goverment does nothing to help the average person, if you are on benefits you get lots of help, if you are rich you get fantastic tax breaks but if you earn approx £20K you get nothing. My husband stays at home to look after our son, because we feel it is better for children to be bought up by family member, not pay a stranger. But because of this we get no help. Would Mr Camerons goverment be looking into to partners being able to transfer un used allowances from partner at home to working partner?
Educated at Eton and Oxford, a direct descendant of King William IV, a distant cousin of the Queen and married to a Viscountess... does David Cameron think that a shiny faced old school Tory toff really has anything relevant to say to the majority of 21st Century Britons?
Dear Mr Cameron,
as you know - Breakdown Britain has many drug-troubled teenagers and criminals.
Surely we need people who can help these kids, get them off drugs, stop them re-offending and become good citizens.
There are at least 2 organisations in Wales [namely Teen Challenge and Victory Outreach] which do exactly that - with very high success rates [about 84% i think] - but because they're Christian organisations they are deemed not to be PC enough in so-called Christian Britain to receive Government funding any more - would you restore their funding?
Having read the 'questions' on here it seems to me that the majority are interested and disgusted at the lack of representation, the spin, the lies, Camerons background is really unimportant and a bit of a red herring, what we the people want is a little honesty, some representation, some truth and intewgrity. If we invaded Iraq because of Oil I for one would understand completly, not sure I would agree but I would understand.
One 'extra' question I would like to ask, not to the politicians exactly but to the Five live team, " how many of the questions are given to the politicians BEFORE being aired?"
Dear Mr Cameron,
as you know - Breakdown Britain has many drug-troubled teenagers and criminals.
Surely we need people who can help these kids, get them off drugs, stop them re-offending and become good citizens.
There are at least 2 organisations in Wales [namely Teen Challenge and Victory Outreach] which do exactly that - with very high success rates [about 84% i think] - but because they're Christian organisations they are deemed not to be PC enough in so-called Christian Britain to receive Government funding any more - would you restore their funding?
I wouldn't ask any of these three where they stand on any particular issue because despite their best efforts to market themselves as politically different from each other none of them are socialist and everything they do in government would be determined by the prevailing interests of capitalism.
For example asking them where they stand on immigration not only refelects the questioners own personal voter apathy but its a complete non-issue because immigration is as endemic to global capitalism as rain is to weather!
if they all have to be on your programme separately the only worthwhile question I'd ask them is how they regard their particular party as fundamentally distinctive from the others and when nne of tem can answer that I'd suggest they all merge together into one neoliberal coalition and stop conning the voting public they represent a choice.
I would like to ask all three party leaders....
When are we going to have an HONEST and not sensationalised debate on the legality of all DRUGS, do they not realise prohibition is harming the young the old the country as a whole.
I'd also like to ask why no politician seems to realise putting more duty on fuel harms only the poor and weak of society, or do all three parties WANT to keep the poor locked into their respective sink hole estates. When was the last time any politician listened to a member of the public that was not a member of their respective parties?
Why cannot my specialist prescribe me Sativex but has to ask permission from the PCT.
All of you are leaning towards forcing genuinely disabled/sick people back into the work place, is this also part of the attack on the poor.
When will any of you have the courage to spend an hour or so with someone such as myself to discuss what its like in the real world outside of westminster.
How can the Tories blame Gordon Brown for the fall in house prices. Surely this is a direct result of Market forces. Personal borrowing, for either Housing or Stocks and Shares, is not controlled by Government. The Tories would soon jump up and down if limits were placed on individual person's borrowings by Law. Choice is still with the people, to elect Governments, to gamble, speculate, or invest in schemes to make or loss money.
Let's see some Policies David, it is easy to be critical, but have you the bottle to really change the Tory approach to reflect the people's wishes for the 21st Century. You could be the best Liberal leader they never got, but can you get the Tories to change their spots. In my view the jury is still undecided.
Hello
In Cheshire, the Conservative led Council are shutting primary schools in the county, even successful rural schools such as St Johns school in Bollington. This indicates that there is still a disconnect between Mr Cameron new conservative policies (and comments from Nick Gibb) and the grass roots old style conservatism. Does he agree that there is a disconnect, and why should I vote for the new Conservatives, when thay are carrying out old style school closures?
Thanks
My question to Mr Cameron is:
What would he do to reverse the country's decline towards, what is increasingly becoming, a fascist state? Just look at the language that is being used: Ministry of Justice; Homeland Security; "If you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to hide"; "It's for your own good."
A Red Dwarf quote sums up, for me, how this country will be if we do nothing about it: "Vote Fascist for a Third Glorious Decade of Total Law Enforcement. Be a Government Informer. Betray Your Family & Friends. Fabulous Prizes to be Won."
Regards,
Sean
Questions for Mr Cameron:
Why when well over 50% of British people want the UK to get out of the EU, won't he even acknowledge that fact, and propose in the Tories next election manifesto that a Conservative Governmnet will take the UK out of the EU?
He as all of us are are concerned about the continuing tide of immegration (legal & illeagal) into the UK, the Governent have ten years too late put in restrictions on non EU nationals, however, we desparetly need the same restrictions on EU nationals, getting out of the EU will allow us to bring in the border controls we need, and as a boinus by getting out of the EU Human Rights legislation we can actually deport those EU and other nations citizens that we need to, thus freeing up lots of prison places.
By leaving the EU, as well as ensuring him an landslide victory, he will also be able to spend the billions of £ saved on this country, for example, Armed Forces, NHS, Polce, and pensioners amongst others.
Finally, by getting out of the EU, he will be able to make our laws, not a EU Commisson and rubber stamp parliment, who contary to what Westminster tells us, EU laws have priimacy over British law, you only have to look at the number of times our law os over ruled by Brussels.
Does he want to be a puppet of the EU or does he truely want to Govern an independant and strong Britain, with it's ties to the rest of the World and Commonwealth, which the EU hate us for, and work very hard at out lawing?
Educated at Eton and Oxford, a direct descendant of King William IV, a distant cousin of the Queen and married to a Viscountess... does David Cameron think that an old school Tory toff really has anything relevant to say to the majority of 21st Century Britons?
Question for Mr Cameron.
On Tony Blairs last day as Prime Minister you stood up in the house of commons and applauded him. As leader of the opposition, what on earth were you thinking??
In "Blairs Britain" law and order has declined markedly with serious crime now an everyday occurence. Our judicial system no longer provides a deterrent and our police force is understandably demorilised and demotivated.
In "Blairs Britain" immigration is completely and irreversibly out of control.
In "Blairs Britain" we threw massive sums of money at the NHS and yet we still have dirty wards.
In "Blairs Britain" we spent billions on a war (which we were mislead into), and have become a target for terrorists who previously had no issue with the UK.
In "Blairs Britain" the average house price is almost 7 times the average salary. (in 1997 it was 3.5 times).
Mr Blairs term as PM did irrevocable harm to this country (Northern Ireland excepted) yet you applauded him. I had to ask why?
what does mr cameron think of the stealth v.e.d road tax coming in over the next two years, i drive a 2001 ford cougar 2.5 and by 2010 my road tax will be up from £190 to £430, what good does this tax do for the enviroment on cars already built and owned apart from raising cash for the government, surely if it was about pollution they would increase the tax on older more polluting cars from the 70's and 80's and not cars with cat convertors on them, modern cars are the least polluting out , so this is about nothing but raising cash, would mr cameron stop this if he was elected in the next general election, as i and hundreds of thousands of other motorists would vote for him
My question to Mr Cameron is:
What would he do to reverse the country's decline towards, what is increasingly becoming, a fascist state? A good example is the proposal
to allow investigations to be stopped on the grounds of "National Security". Just look at the language that is being used: Ministry of Justice;
Homeland Security; "If you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to hide"; "It's for your own good."
A Red Dwarf quote sums up, for me, how this country will be if we do nothing about it: "Vote Fascist for a Third Glorious Decade of Total Law Enforcement. Be a Government Informer. Betray Your Family & Friends. Fabulous Prizes to be Won."
Regards,
Sean
As a staunch Tory, I have been aghast at the way in which the Labour government have run economy. However, I am similarly disgusted by the way in which the opposition, IE the Conservatives, sat back and let the government run up record debt, trade deficit, budget overspends and did not challenge the government over the reckless and almost unregulated lending practices of the major banks. As the opposition, that’s what you were entrusted to do. Why did the Conservatives sit back and do nothing?
Are you intending to turn the UK budget deficit into a surplus within your first term and how?
Could you ask Mr. Cameron that if he was elected which I hope he is whether he will put up the threshhold for Inheritance Tax straight away.
David Cameron is on record as saying the Human Rights Act should be scrapped. Can he again confirm he is committed to scrapping this act.
As a staunch Tory, I have been aghast at the way in which the Labour government have run economy. However, I am similarly disgusted by the way in which the opposition, IE the Conservatives, sat back and let the government run up record debt, trade deficit, budget overspends and did not challenge the government over the reckless and almost unregulated lending practices of the major banks. As the opposition, that’s what you were entrusted to do. Why did the Conservatives sit back and do nothing?
Are you intending to turn the UK budget deficit into a surplus within your first term and how?
My question to Mr Cameron is:
What would he do to reverse the country's decline towards, what is increasingly becoming, a police state? A good example is the proposal
to allow investigations to be stopped on the grounds of "National Security". Just look at the language that is being used: Ministry of Justice;
Homeland Security; "If you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to hide"; "It's for your own good."
Is combating extremism with extremism our only answer? Are we not beyond that?
A Red Dwarf quote sums up, for me, how this country will be if we do nothing about it: "Vote Fascist for a Third Glorious Decade of Total Law Enforcement. Be a Government Informer. Betray Your Family & Friends. Fabulous Prizes to be Won."
Regards,
Sean
Ask Cameron does he have the guts to make the changes we need to get the country back to reality. If he does not know what these are I will be happy to tell him.
As a PS please ask him if he is smart enough to run the country why he did not see the financial disaster we are now suffering before it hit. I predicted it 3 years ago.
Question: I have never claimed any benefits in my life. I have never commited a crime. I am married with a small baby. We've chosen to play by the book, by the law. Despite the financial pain, we cut down all luxuries to enable my wife to stay at home to look after our child. The result? We are one of the most taxed couples in the UK.
If we split up and lived seperately, we could claim so much in the way of benefits, council tax etc. If we shove our child off to a stranger, we would get working tax credits.
What would you do to promote marriage, responsibility for looking after our own children and living by the laws of the land
David Cameron is on record saying he would scrap the Human Rights Act. Can he confirm that he is still committed to scrapping this act.
Re England,when are the illegal regions going to be dismantled,& a ENGLISH PARLIAMENT INSTALLED, WE WANT A ENGLISH PALIAMENT,NOTHING LESS !
I am 40 yrs old and have always voted Tory, it's nothing personal but not next time. I believe the interests of this country would be best served outside of Europe, in particular the abolition of the Human Rights Act. I ask you as someone in the know who should I and the many many unrepresented people like myself vote for?
My question to Mr Cameron:
The conservative administration in power during the last house price crash and recession during the early 1990's responded by implementing measures to increase spending power. These included reductions in interest rates, reductions in government spending and also eventually tax cuts. This lead to the strong economy inherited by Gordon Brown in 1997 and maintained during the two year he continued with Tory spending plans.
Does Mr Cameron agree we have valuable lessons to learn from this period and if so how would a Tory administration respond to the current crisis?