Norman Lamb does not rule out a bid for his party's leadership when a vacancy arises, which he is sure it will at some point. But he tells the 'free speech' audience he would have to think hard about the impact it would have on his family.

Not surprisingly Norman Lamb is getting a hard time over the Lib Dems' broken promise on student fees. He says it was a "big mistake" to make the promise and the party has "taken a hit" - but it was the right thing to do in the national interest. Fees mean "universities will be forced to listen to students about the sort of education they want," he argues.

UKIP's Diane James doesn't agree with Nigel Farage on another issue it seems. The UKIP leader has said he believes the current laws on hand guns should be relaxed. Ms James - who is UKIP's home affairs spokeswoman - says the current legislation should remain in place and should even be strengthened. It does not seem as if she has much influence over her party's leader, points out one audience member.

The UKIP MEP Diane James has said she has "no issue at all" with hearing people speaking foreign languages while travelling on a train. The MEP was challenged on the BBC 3 Free Speech programme about remarks made by UKIP leader Nigel Farage to the effect that he wished he could hear an English voice on the train. Ms James said she had "absolutely no view" about Mr Farage's comments.

Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb is now facing questions from young people.

tweets:, external If only the studio audience for Cameron and Miliband had been as lively as the one on @bbcthree, external 's #freespeech, external now.

Newsnight

For the course of the general election campaign, BBC Newsnight each evening will be publishing an exclusive Newsnight Index on the likely outcome, based on a sophisticated forecast model. It is produced by Professor Chris Hanretty from the University of East Anglia and his colleagues at electionforecast.co.uk. For more information on how the Index is produced, see here., external

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UKIP MEP Diane James is answering young peoples' questions live now.

A general election candidate has faced criticism on social media for telling a woman in a gay marriage that he did not want to hear from her again. Peterborough Conservative Stewart Jackson sent the response to constituent Laura O'Sullivan after she messaged him to say she would not vote for him. Social media consultant Sue Llewellyn said the message was "stupid". Mr Jackson has been unavailable to comment on the exchange. Read the full story here.

David Cameron appears to have contradicted senior Metropolitan Police officers by suggesting the east London schoolgirls who fled to Syria could face criminal charges if they choose to return to the UK. Asked what would happen to the girls, who are thought to have joined Islamic State, should they ever try to return, he told BBC London: "Whoever has gone out to join a terrorist organisation is breaking the law and has to face the consequences of breaking the law.

"We have to let the law take its course in the proper way."

Earlier this month, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the Bethnal Green Academy pupils would not face terrorism charges if they came back.

For readers in a hurry .

tweets, external : The Tories will launch their election manifesto on April 13. #GE2015, external

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

The election campaign has been been under way for about 24 hours but some potential voters may not be excited by five more weeks of politics. Daily Politics reporter Ellie Price took the mood box - an unscientific test with a box with plastic balls - to see whether the public thought the campaign and election would make any difference to them. Watch what voters have to say

Some reaction to the latest Comres poll , external predicting a 19 point swing from Labour to the SNP in Scotland.Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy says the poll shows some improvement for his party but they were not getting carried away. "We are back in the fight but we are still the underdogs. If this poll is repeated on election day it could hand the keys to Downing Street back to David Cameron", he says.

SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said the poll was "welcome" but the party wasn't taking anything for granted. He also claims more SNP MPs will be good for the whole of the UK. "By electing more anti-Tory MPs than Tory MPs we can lock David Cameron out of Downing Street - and put an end to the ideological commitment to austerity which is hurting communities across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.".

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

Using alcohol causes violence and crime, unlike cannabis, said the leader of Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol Party (CISTA), which is fielding candidates in the general election. Paul Birch said he would prefer his own adult children to use the drug, rather than drink wine. Watch his interview with Andrew Neil

Image source, bbc

Andrew Neil
Daily and Sunday Politics

Plaid Cymru has unveiled its general election manifesto and pledged to be a "very real alternative" to what it claimed was the austerity consensus from Westminster. Leader Leanne Wood spoke about the party's poll ratings compared to UKIP, and its stance over potentially working with a minority Labour government, despite Plaid's refusal to back the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons. She claimed Labour was trying to "frighten people" and said she would not "prop up" a Conservative government. Watch her interview

A poll released tonight, external suggests a 19 point swing from Labour to the SNP in Scotland. If translated into votes, the SNP would be on course to take 28 of Labour's 40 Scottish seats. .

Appearing live on #BBCAskThis, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude says one of the biggest priorities for a majority Conservative government will be maintaining the Trident nuclear programme. "There cannot be any higher priority than the security and safety of this nation," he said. "Continuing an independent nuclear deterrent is absolutely essential to that," added Mr Maude, who has served as a minister under Thatcher, Major and Cameron, but is standing down as an MP.

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