If you were Prime Minister what would you do!

Mine, too Maniac! We do need many more people to come forward and speak up for grandparents who are denied contact. I only had to endure this for just under a year and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy - it's like learning that your child has disappeared off the face of the earth and you have no idea how to resolve it yourself. I watched my son go downhill and he was so distraught and grieving for his son. Happily, he now has access and is in a much stronger position, but he is picking his business back up as it nearly folded when he couldn't work because of his distress - last week, he did 15 hour days most of the week, except for when he was meeting his son. He'll get back on track, but it has been enlightening to see the effects of having contact denied, and the distress that ricocheted through our family. I hope many more grandparents in this position will soon be reunited with their grandchildren.

Thank you glassortwofor your intention as P.M. to help Grandparents and Parents denied contact.
You would definitely have my vote!

Glassortwo, men or women their sex is irrelevant to me I'd settle for politicians with integrity regardless of sex, colour, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion. It seems this quality is sadly lacking amongst the career politicians we have on offer.

Yes we need strong women!

It would be good if we had some efficient women in the cabinet, but Blair's Babes were a useless lot in general. We need some women of the calibre of Bessie Braddock, Edith Summerskill and Betty Boothroyd.

I am sorry If I am treading on any toes as I have not read the thread, but have had a glass or two....... but if I was Prime Minister .....I feel if we had more women in government things would be done with more speed, more efficiently and done to benefit the majority and not the rich minority, and this country would be in a better position.

As Prime Minister I need to help the Grandparents and Parents who are cut off from their Gc and DC.

OK, pogs. Understood . I guess it was the "Dear Greatnan" that threw me — unnecessarily, thankfully.

i like the queen. she gets on with the job, quietly.

Agreed, Jess. I sometimes think that the Queen could do a better job running things - she has seen them all come and go.

Good morning! (well it is here and DS's alarm went off at 5.30, by mistake)
If I was prime minister I would drastically cut the amount of legislation. At the beginning of the term all the ministers rub their hands and start drafting enormous bills that are aimed at getting votes in the next election - whether change is needed or not. Huge costs are incurred. My DH is involved in one small bit of one of the current bills. There are, he estimates, over 100 civil servants working on this one small aspect. (over a couple of years) I personally doubt that it will make any difference to the issue. It is just "trying to come up with new ideas" territory. Cut legislative time to 1/3 of current. Let ministers concentrate on the day to to day business of running things better, rather than differently. Ban the word "reform". i.e. tinkering for the sake of it.
If any ministers want to change something they would have to run proper trials, wait for the evaluation to come in an assess the evidence.
I noticed the queen played for a laugh in her recent speech when she mentioned the number of bills she had signed.

You haven't offended me, POGS, and your apology made me smile - it reminded me of my teenage grand-daughter's 'Sooooorrry'.

No the O.P. was not aware her views would be controversial!. If you read what was said there was definately no accreditation to one person, no name was mentioned, it was my thoughts on the collective response.

I am very saddened and shocked to be accused of contravening 'forum etiquette'.

For the sake of keeping the spirit of forum to a friendlier nature I APOLOGISE TO THOSE WHO I HAVE OFFENDED.

Now can we get back to the question asked in the first place, PLEASE!

Quite right, Anagram, and that is all that I expressed too. As other members felt the need to show their support for me, I presume they also thought that POGS remarks were addressed at me.
Fortunately, I rarely get upset by anything said on a forum. Sticks and stones.........

Firstly, I'm pretty sure ninnynanny didn't expect most members to agree with her views, and secondly, POGS didn't accuse Greatnan personally of being a bully. Surely this has got out of all proportion, with various members leaping to the defence of others, when all that has been expressed is a personal opinion?

Thank you, juragran. She may just have been stating her true opinion and possibly expected most members to agree with them.

Thank you Greatnan- you have my support too. Surely the OP was aware that her views would be very controversial in the very least.

Pogs - I don't really mind your calling me a bully, shallow and stereotyped, although it is not forum etiquette to make personal remarks about another member. I think you will find I have reserved my criticism for the publishers of the DM, not its readers. I try to be courteous at all times whilst expressing my opinions.
I have said many times that I read the on-line version because it amuses me to see what headlines they come up with and also because I like to see what 'righties' (is that the equivalent of 'lefties'?) are up to.

MY 'pet' issues are racism, sexism and homophobia and the demonising of the people who have to rely on benefits for one reason or another. I like to highlight examples of such bigotry wherever I find it.

Thank you for your support bagitha and soop, it is much appreciated.

Bagitha, Oh dear, I was only answering greatnans question actually. I am sorry you have associated the word bully to greatnan personally. I would like to reiterate my emphasised point "We put in our twopenneth in what should be a relatively easy manner in the spirit I hope it is intended ".

As you quite rightly say greatnan expresses strong views no-different to myself or ninnynanny then.

I'd get rid of cronyism it just contributes to the general malaise that hangs around both sides of the political spectrum. I'd certainly do away with internships these pre suppose that you have the means to support yourself whilst working for nothing, and on top of probable student debts already accrued. I'd try and make MPs more in touch and representative of their electorate. I'd come out of the Human Rights Act immediately. I'd stop trying to fool everybody that the Euro crisis will be sorted out when it seems almost inevitable that a number of countries will default on their debts. I'd look at the education systems in countries such as Finland, Netherlands, Canada and Germany and then try and implement some of their teaching practices here, I understand Finland have one of the highest literacy rates in the world and the UK seem to have let a lot of our children down in this respect. I would do all I could to stop the abuse and neglect of the elderly in care homes and hospitals.

maniac why on earth should you appologise?

I was sad that this thread at times became so trivial .
For me there is no doubt about what I would do if I were Prime Minister.
I would introduce legislation immediately to give shared parenting rights to all those currently denied access and give the 1 million plus grandchildren at present cut off the right to have contact with grandparents.(ensuring of course that safety is assured).
Reading the 2 long threads ‘Denied Contact’ and ‘Cut out of Their Lives’ again is heart-breaking and so depressing .Despite the national publicity in the last year nothing much has changed or improved.
If it hasn’t happened yet in your family just try to imagine for one day that you are denied all contact with your darling grandchildren. You might understand a little of why we keep banging on about it.
Yes I agree that is my pet issue. No apologies!

I totally agree with soop

Of the many contributors to GN forums, very, very few have rattled my cage. And greatnan hasn't as much as run a stick along it. Aggro for the sake of scoring points, seems so bloody-minded and utterly pointless.

pogs, I have never found greatnan to be a bully. She expresses strong views and often controversial ones but, as you point out, it is only expressing her twopenn'orth. I'm certain she has never intentionally upset a fellow member of GN. Disagreeing with someone and sleighting a newspaper that one reads to find out what one considers the worst journalism, is not being offensive. greatnan has stated more than once that she loves an argument. Nothing wrong with that.

I read newspapers that tend to one or other side of the political spectrum in order to find out what the range of opinions is on various issues. That way I feel better able to judge the issue myself. If one only reads one side, one can become blinkered or, at least, unaware of what is being said by people who disagree with the stance one favours.

Someone ...I'm sorry but I can't remember who now ...made the comment about hoping a PM would leave their personal desires/preferences out of decision making ...WELL!!!

Don't most of us believe that MPs often go into politics because they have a 'hobby horse' issue they wish to see changed??

My MP spoke in a debate on ways to diminish the problem of rogue/packs of dogs. Why? Because there is a dog problem in his constituency? NO.

Why did he talk in the debate ...because his wife got chased while skiing in Scotland ...the other end of the country.

I don't suppose any other GNetter's MP is any different ...they all have 'pet' issues

If I was PM ...one of the first things I'd do is reduce all MP holiday sessions; then do something about getting rid of all their allowances ...they get paid enough for the work they do ...all MPs would have to "attend" parliamentary sessions; if they want to buy a drink in the bar ...it should be at market prices ...not subsidised by the tax payer