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Yvette Cooper, live webchat, Tuesday 10 July, 1-2pm

(88 Posts)
GeraldineGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 28-Jun-12 20:31:27

Yvette Cooper is the Shadow Home Secretary, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities and one of the most important figures in the current Labour Party, often tipped as a future leader. She has a particular interest in what she calls the stretched generation - looking after elderly parents, helping out with grandchildren, worrying about pensions. She's a mother of three and, with her husband Ed Balls, she's half of the first married couple to serve in the British cabinet.

We're delighted that she's coming in for a webchat. Please ask your questions here.

whenim64 Tue 10-Jul-12 17:16:17

Not at all impressed by Yvette Cooper. Thanks for inviting her in, Gransnet. She certainly picked the easiest issues to reply about, and not very many of them.

pammygran Tue 10-Jul-12 18:46:41

Typical politician..only answers the questions she can slither out of..god help us ... a Labour government...Cameron get some BALLS!!!

Anagram Tue 10-Jul-12 18:48:39

But not that one! hmm

JessM Tue 10-Jul-12 19:29:49

She was mentioned as a potential party leader, but somehow i don't think so...
I would love to take her shopping though!

Annobel Wed 11-Jul-12 10:35:53

I was disappointed that she dodged Troubadour's question about immigration. This is her field as shadow Home Secretary. The Labour Party has been slow to respond to 'immigrant bashing' which is shameful. Think about it - how would the NHS function without nurses and doctors from all quarters of the globe? The hospitality industry seems to thrive on the contribution of young people from the old Eastern bloc, here to improve their English rather than settle permanently. Most of us, if we look far enough back, have very mixed ancestry: Romans and Anglo Saxons were invaders, as were the Vikings and Normans. Other groups have, thankfully, arrived in a more peaceful manner, to make a contribution to our society and economy.

Barrow Wed 11-Jul-12 12:53:08

I agree we have a lot to thank immigrants for - I think what a lot of people object to are the immigrants who come here and seem to be able to claim benefits without having made a contribution. I appreciate these are probably in the minority but they are the ones that get the publicity. The same as most teenagers are hard working but its only the lazy work shy ones you read about - its what sells newspapers.

jeni Wed 11-Jul-12 13:00:14

Are there any statistics about this does anyone know?

pammygran Wed 11-Jul-12 15:14:14

How weird, just spoken to my best friend whose DIL works at the Treasury..she says Yvette Cooper is a really nice person, one of the nicest ministers..but cant say same about her hubbie!

Mamie Wed 11-Jul-12 15:41:10

I actually think that she hasn't quite got the genre of social media yet. I find her tweets quite stilted; Ed's are much better.

POGS Wed 11-Jul-12 19:39:27

She has been in politics a long time now, well versed in the media.

At the end of the day she dodged the difficult questions. Typical politician I'm afraid, talk about the opposition because there is nothing to say about her own party.

What would they all do if they were told do not spin, do not be a hypocrite, do not be partisan, do not speak if you have nothing to say.

What would they do if they were told do tell the electorate what your party will deliver, do speak the truth, do behave in a mature fashion, do answer a question without making an opinion on what the opposition are doing,do stop acting like children in parliament, do be honest.

They could'nt cope.

Mamie Thu 12-Jul-12 07:03:54

I think she is more than capable of dealing with the conventional media POGS. I was making a point about social media i.e. blogs, twitter, webchats etc

GadaboutGran Fri 13-Jul-12 18:08:05

Following on from Pammmy gran, I have a friend whose daughter works for senior politicians and says George Osborne is really good to work for and far nicer & considerate than a recent ex Labour PM who was an unpleasant slave driver. But as an ardent socialist she still wouldn't vote for George.