Salmond woos Mumsnet

ALEX Salmond pledged to maintain free education and free personalcare yesterday as he attempted to woo one of the most potentpolitical forces of recent years - Mumsnet members.

The First Minister told the popular parenting website that he wasproud of both policies and, quoting from Robert Burns's A Red, RedRose, added: "The rocks will melt wi' the sun before I'll allow anychange to them."

In a wide-ranging webchat, he also defended a pound(s)500,000donation from Stagecoach founder Brian Souter, who, in 2000,campaigned to retain a law banning schools from discussinghomosexuality in the classroom. Mr Salmond rejected a suggestion thecash would affect SNP policy, saying the party's stance on equalitywas "well known".

During the online grilling he also revealed his favourite biscuitwas a Tunnock's chocolate caramel wafer, thereby dodging one of themost potentially explosive bullets in modern politics.

Mumsnet members were en-raged two years ago when Gordon Brownseemed to avoid the now infamous "biscuit" question, over whichsnack was his favourite. The former Prime Minister was even forcedto take to Twitter the next day to answer the question, revealing itwas "anything with a bit of chocolate on it".

Mumsnet is fast becoming a major player in politics, and bothDavid Cameron and Nick Clegg have previously set out to win over itsmembers.

The internet network for mothers claims that it taps into acrucial demographic rarely heard in political debate, but whopoliticians need to secure votes from in order to clinch elections.

Its growing political influence was highlighted last month whenMr Cameron was forced to re-spond to a Mumsnet member who said thatspending cuts would mean she would be forced to put her disabledchild into care.

During his online Q and A, Mr Salmond also admitted that he hadchanged nappies in the past, although he said he did so badly.

He even apologised to a woman and her four-year-old child foraccidentally hitting them with an umbrella at the Turriff Show lastyear. "If I had realised I would have said sorry at the time," theFirst Minister said.

A number of questions centred around the Souter donationannounced at the weekend.

At one point it seemed as if the Mumsnet crowd thought the SNPleader was avoiding the question, with a few saying so explicitly.One said: "So far nothing on the Brian Souter/gay marriage question.Am I the only one who cares if that's changed SNP policy?"

Another, called Venusandmars, appeared to encourage the FirstMinister, saying: "Liking your answers Mr Salmond, and lookingforward to your reply about civil partnerships."

But Mr Salmond rejected suggestions the donation should be takenas a signal that the SNP are supportive of Mr Souter's stance onhomosexuality.

And he said that he "deprecated" comments made by Bill Aitken,the Scottish Con- servative justice spokesman, at the weekendquestioning whether a rape victim had been a prostitute.

Although he said that he did not think that the remarks "reallyrepresented" Mr Aitken's views, he added: "As for the repercussions,it seems to be the best thing is don't vote Tory."

However, the First Minister did dodge one question, refusing toreveal his racing tips to the Mumsnet faithful.