Election 2015 at-a-glance: Thursday 30 April campaigning

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A daily guide to the key stories, newspaper headlines and quotes from the campaign for the 7 May general election.

Image source, Getty Images

The Lib Dems and Conservatives come to blows over proposals for child benefit and tax credits, while Ed Miliband tells voters they have seven days to keep out a government that would be "devastating" for families. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon tours 12 marginal seats by helicopter - as the Scottish Sun backs her party.

Day in a nutshell

  • The Conservatives proposed to "slash" child benefit while in coalition, Lib Dem Treasury chief Danny Alexander says - claims rejected by Chancellor George Osborne

  • Ed Miliband tells voters they have seven days to "take your chance to run Britain for working people"

  • The Scottish Sun has endorsed the SNP - while the London-based edition backed the Conservatives and the FT backs another Tory/Lib Dem coalition

  • David Cameron pledges to lift more young people out of paying income tax

  • Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett says she has put climate change on the agenda - amid some criticism

  • David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are preparing for the BBC's Question Time Election Leaders' Special, where they will face questions separately from a studio audience

  • In separate programmes, the UKIP, Plaid Cymru and SNP leaders will also take questions

  • Keep up with all the days events on our live page.

Key quotes

  • Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander: "I'm lifting the lid on this now because the Conservatives are trying to con the British people by keeping their planned cuts secret until after the election."

  • Conservative Chancellor George Osborne: "This is a three-year-old document of policy options that was commissioned by the chief secretary to the Treasury himself. We haven't put in to practice any of these options, we don't support them, we didn't support them and we don't support them in the future."

  • Labour leader Ed Miliband: "I think it says a lot about the state of British politics that you have got the primary Tory-supporting newspaper that is supporting the Conservative Party in England and supporting the SNP in Scotland. There can be no greater illustration of the unholy alliance of the Conservatives and the SNP."

  • UKIP leader Nigel Farage: "It is as if the BBC is part, in its thinking, of the political establishment and we are the one party in British politics challenging this European consensus and frankly I think being treated in the most extraordinary way."

Thursday's newspaper headlines

"Lib Dems to revolt over fresh pact with Tories" - The Times, external says Nick Clegg will face much resistance from his own party to any second coalition deal with the Conservatives

"Revealed: Tory plan to slash £8bn benefits" -The Guardian, external reports that plans to cut £8bn from the welfare bill discussed in 2012 have been revealed by Lib Dem 'quad' minister Danny Alexander

"Miliband heads for wipeout in Scotland" - The Telegraph, external leads on a poll suggesting the SNP will win every Westminster seat in Scotland

"40% of voters still can't decide" - The Daily Mail, external says its poll suggests the 7 May election will be the most unpredictable in a generation

Day in pictures

Image source, AFP
Image caption,

The Scottish Sun and the Sun went different ways with their front page endorsements

Image source, PA
Image caption,

The prime minister went for a walk about in Wetherby

Image source, PA
Image caption,

UKIP's Nigel Farage was surprised by a campaign trail gift from a French sculptor

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