John Stevens, Daily Mail political reporterpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
@johnestevens
Quote MessageErrrr Ukip's Suzanne Evans now says there isn't a net migration target"
Summary
Conservatives welcome a letter from over 100 company bosses backing a “Conservative-led government”
Labour publishes its own letter signed by “people from all walks of life” as it pledges a crackdown on zero hours contracts
Lib Dems discuss plans to triple paternity leave to six weeks
Ed Balls and Nick Clegg take their campaigns to Scotland
There are 36 days until the general election
John Stevens, Daily Mail political reporterpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
Get involvedpublished at 08:43
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Carl Hall, St Neots:
Given that no one party is very likely to win this election outright, and on the face if it there aren't too many palatable coalition options, if we end up with a minority government how would the fixed term parliaments act allow for that government to fall within the 5 years. Are their key pieces of legislation (budgets and Queens speeches) that can force a confidence vote and possibly a new General Election ahead of the 5 years - or is it more complicated than that now?
Playing in the streetpublished at 08:42
UKIP has previously complained about not enough children playing in the streets these days. The main problem is there’s more traffic in the street, Patrick O’Flynn says. But he thinks the “very fast pace” of “uncontrolled” immigration is putting “pressure on community cohesion”. This “does leave parents worrying about public spaces and safety and familiarity”, he adds.
Dan Hodges, commentator for the Telegraph and Total Politicspublished at 08:40 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
@DPJHodges
Quote MessageBusiness letter very bad for Labour. But party will take some comfort from fact will run alongside zero-hours. Rich v poor dividing line."
EU 'propaganda'published at 08:40
UKIP’s Patrick O’Flynn and Suzanne Evans are rather concerned by the large amounts of literature being produced by the EU to win support. “Overall the European Union has an advertising budget that’s larger than that of Coca-Cola,” Ms Evans tells the party’s morning press conference. There are even colouring books, Mr O’Flynn says. “I think the colouring books apply at primary school level because they like to catch them young.”
Politicians and the presspublished at 08:38
The GuardianAfter the last parliament’s tensions over the role of journalism and its relationship with politics, the Liberal Democrats are now pushing for a right to protect members of the press from state interference, the Guardian reports, external. Their manifesto will include a charter on press freedom that includes a number of changes, including stripping ministers of powers and strengthening whistleblowers’ protections. The current laws, Nick Clegg says, “are just too opaque”.
UKIP presser beginspublished at 08:36
UKIP’s morning press conference is now under way. The party’s Cambridge candidate and MEP Patrick O’Flynn calls on David Cameron to “come clean” about coalition discussions he might have had about the possibility the Lib Dems might insist on allowing EU citizens living in Britain the right to vote in any EU referendum. “We see this as an attempt by the Liberal Democrats to gerrymander the outcome,” he says.
Catch uppublished at 08:34
BBC Radio 5 Live
Catch up on the last 24hrs of the general election campaign with 5 Live's 15-minute summary, Election Report.
Tony Livesey and Anna Foster review day two of the election trail, alongside chief political correspondent John Pienaar. It was a day dominated by arguments over the economy, but we also had the announcement of Plaid Cymru's manifesto, and the reality TV star Joey Essex interviewing Nick Clegg.”
Ben Riley-Smith, political correspondent, Daily Telegraphpublished at 08:31 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
@benrileysmith
Quote MessageDevious April Fool's from @MichaelLCrick this morning. [60 retweets and counting].
Beth Rigby, FT deputy political editorpublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
@BethRigby
Quote Messagenote the word 'Labour' not actually used in Telegraph bis letter. I assume that a condition of getting business figures 2 endorse it #GE2015"
Norman Smith, BBC assistant political editorpublished at 08:27 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
@BBCNormanS
Quote MessageLabour sources dismiss reports Ed Miliband met @Nigel_Farage last night
Underdog politicspublished at 08:26
BBC Radio 4 Today
Image source, PAScottish Labour leader Jim Murphy, wrapping up his interview, accepts that his party are playing catch-up. "In Scotland we're behind in the opinion polls - yes, we are the underdogs. But the first ball's just been kicked..." That last point is one he made repeatedly throughout his Today programme appearance: he wants people to think the match has only just started this week, while nationalists may be keener on emphasising their consistent lead in the polls over recent months.
Against tactical votingpublished at 08:22
BBC Radio 4 Today"My priority in this election isn't about having a tactical coalition against the SNP," Jim Murphy says. The big contest between himself and Nicola Sturgeon will take place next year, he says. This general election campaign is about Labour and the Tories.
Ben Riley-Smith, political correspondent, Daily Telegraphpublished at 08:21 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
Quote MessageJim Murphy admits that "of course" Labour and SNP would "work together" if polls are repeated on May 7. (On opposition benches.)
'Let the voters decide'published at 08:20
BBC Radio 4 Today
Image source, PAJim Murphy says Labour's only responsibility is to "win an election" and win an overall majority, at that. He's not very keen on this focus on the possibilities of a hung parliament. "Why don't we let the voters decide? Why don't we have a debate about the big ideas of running the country and... not have a debate about what happens the day after polling day." He describes the speculation over what could happen as a "soap opera".
Ian Dunt, editor of Politics.co.ukpublished at 08:18 British Summer Time 1 April 2015
@IanDunt
Quote MessageJim Murphy coming across terribly on #Today: arrogant, negative, half-asleep, very male."
Trivia timepublished at 08:17
BBC Radio 4 TodayJim Murphy provides a bit of election trivia on the Today programme: the last time a party formed a government when it wasn't the largest in the Commons was in 1924.
'Little helpers'published at 08:16
BBC Radio 4 TodayDavid Cameron can't win seats in Scotland, Jim Murphy says. So he needs someone else to do it. "The SNP are playing the role of David Cameron's little helpers," he tells Today. That reflects broader messages emerging from the Labour camp that the SNP and Conservatives are forming an "unholy alliance" against Mr Murphy's party.
'Swim harder'published at 08:14
BBC Radio 4 TodayVoters need to forget about last year's referendum - or "disagreement", as Jim Murphy puts it - and focus on this year's election question: are we going to end up with a Labour or a Conservative government? "Most people in Scotland think David Cameron is the type of prime minister who when he sees a drowning man shouts at him to swim harder," he adds.
Murphy sizes up the electionpublished at 08:13
BBC Radio 4 Today
Image source, PAScottish Labour leader Jim Murphy is on the Today programme now as his party faces a serious challenge from the SNP in this year's general election. "I think they're overflowing with arrogance," he says of the nationalists. "We've got weeks to go and I'm confident we'll turn these polls around."