7-Way Debate Tonight

Sorry, did not mean to suggest that girls were any less capable of being politicians than boys. In fact my MP is a woman, and a good MP, too. However, it was you, Igranma, who only mentioned your boys in your post.
It's not for you to decide, but you can suggest, as you think people like them should represent us.
In fact many MPs in the North East are from families just like mine. I do not presume to know what your family is like.

Oh, why should Igranma suggest to her boys that they go into politics?! You are making too much of what she actually said.

I only mentioned boys as EM & DM Are brothers.

Many careers were discussed by all in the family at the relevant times.

I think people from all walks of life should have equal access , instead we have a young political class with no ideal of life outside of parliament.

POGS , now seems Sam Cam has given an interview in tomorrow's mail on their sons illness and the strain etc, I cannot agree that Brown spoke of the death of Jennifer anywhere near as often as Cameron and for me I think they are using their dead child for political gain .

I would imagine that the number of voters who would be persuaded to vote for the tories for that reason would be matched by the number who would be dissuaded. Not really an issue IMO.

An excellent article from Nicola Sturgeon. Hope Ed says yes.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/04/nicola-sturgeon-snp-anti-austerity-message-tories

I think that the Tories must think that it will help, even if the rest of us dont. Otherwise there would not be the interview. I too think it is bad taste really.
But then, I suppose we saw Nicola Sturgeon on somewhere walking along the coast and was met by her two nieces on the beach[she hasnt got children, so they came in useful to her].

The one thing I admire the Cleggs for is their absolute insistence on keeping their boys out of the media. There have been very mean comments about NS's childlessness - I just really dislike the whole family/marriage/children aspect of politicians lives. Does anyone know if Angela Merkel has children?

I just googled - she hasn't and what difference does that make? I do feel that Sam Cam is moving to dangerous territory with her interview. Once she puts all that in the spotlight, they have to take whatever might arise from that. I have to say I find it quite cheap to use your dead child as a way to appeal to voters because that's what she is doing

She must think it makes a difference as she had her neices in the piece.

i just think it's a pity that in general people seem to think it matters

Michael Portillo and William Hague have had very snide comments made about their childlessness - I think the Hagues eventually made a statement about his wife's fertility problems. How sad that they had to. Both men had strengths as politicians and when I disagreed with them( which was often) I never once thought that they would make better decisions if they had children

I am not sure it makes a difference either.

Just a word about DC and Ivan .
I have no particular affiliation to any party and what I have to say is not meant as contentious in any way.
I watched the debate and thought that the mention of Ivan came as a response to a question about the NHS , DC giving an example of how precious it had been to him during Ivan's short life. Had it been in the present and not the past tense no one would have batted an eyelid.
I really don't believe that DC would use Ivan for political gain, though I do realise that some of the cynics amongst you would vehemently disagree. That is your right.
Ivan was and always will be their precious first born. DC and Sam cannot just switch it off.
I hope that they continue to acknowledge Ivan, however uncomfortable it makes some of us feel.

I agree juliette
Someone in our close family lost a child at 18 months of age and it is important to her that the rest of us remember her little girl on birthdays and anniversaries.

What makes me uncomfortable is the context in which he is mentioned - a party political interview in a welfare state hating tabloid - she uses Ivan t appeal for our votes. That is beyond cheap

I agree, GrannyTwice. If it was not for our votes, why does she have to do it now?
The government has brought in a law to try and prevent charities from being critical of the government in the election run-up.
They should not use their own families in support during this time, either.

These are letters in the Guardian about the impact of the government's welfare reforms on the disabled.

gu.com/p/478x2

Parents cannot forget a child they will always grieve for, politicians have always done happy families at the run up to elections, with the exception of Clegg, Blair and Brown , but it's just coincidence that Sam Cam gives such a personal interview weeks before the election ? No mention that after their son died the care centre he attended was closed down. No matter how wealthy a family is money cannot ease grief, but I am sickened by Cammeron going on and on about how they struggled caring for that little child yet he has inflicted so much more pain on ordinary families struggling to care for a family member with a disability and now that child's mother has joined in using that short life to gain votes from women . Less talking of their suffering and more action for parents who are struggling please

I can't believe that the Camerons struggled to look after their son in the way that a family without their finances has to [ie one parent being unable to work and the whole family struggling financially..which then brings in the issue of welfare cuts etc]. Even as a lifelong Labour voter I do actually like the Camerons, but I can't be doing with this 'i'mdavemanofthepeopleandamjustlike you' stuff.

You do wonder how much more lower and how more bad taste is possible.

I seem to remember Margaret Hilda being interviewed in her kitchen. Tony Blair never hid his family, Michael Howard trotted out the fragrant Sandra. The only difference is that DC was talking about his dead child.
I shall not post again, will just keep on reading with interest, and looking at every one of durhamjen's links.

It was Mary Archer who was famously described in court as 'fragrant', I think, Juliette
I do hope you only mean that you're not going to post any more on this thread, and not stopping posting altogether.

Juliette, sorry but you are mistaken, the Blair children were not seen in public untill they entered number 10 , there was a photograph with proceeds going to charity of Leo Blair but this was because he was the first child born in number 10 for many,many years. The Brown children were not seen untill the Browns left number 10. The Clegg children are not seen, today we have Florence Cammeron sitting in a red box , the Cammerons are the most guilty for putting their children into the public eye

There are plenty of photos of Ed Miliband's children on the internet, he doesn't seem particularly bothered about keeping them under wraps!