Summary

  • The leaders of seven UK parties took part in a two-hour live televised election debate

  • It was the only debate of the campaign which will feature David Cameron and Ed Miliband

  • They clashed on a range of issues including the NHS, immigration and the deficit

  • Snap polls taken afterwards gave differing verdicts on the winner

  • There are 35 days until the general election

Live Reporting

Tom Moseley, Andrew McFarlane and Bernadette McCague

  1. 'This should be David Cameron but that looks like a woman'

    He's used to tackling political heavyweights but you can watch here how seven tiny plastic people left the BBC's Norman Smith stumped when he was presented with a Lego mock-up of the studio for tonight's debate.

    Norman Smith with the Lego model

  2. Away from the studios

    While party leaders are polishing their acts ahead of tonight's televised showdown, campaigning continues on the doorsteps. Conservative chairman Grant Shapps is canvassing with candidate for Wells, James Heappey, in Street, Somerset.

    A voter greets Grant Shapps and Conservative candidate for Wells James Heappey in Street, SomersetGetty Images

  3. Kamal Ahmed, BBC business editor

    tweets :

    Am told that @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot was approached by Tories but wasn't aware it was to sign the pro-Conservative business letter"

  4. How to keep cool under pressure?

    Margaret Thatcher's former make-up artist Sandra Exelby tells BBC Radio 5 live that a "chamois leather would work wonders for a sweaty brow" during the leader's debate.

  5. Sherman

    @shermanking40

    Tweets:

    So #leadersdebate is already trending on Twitter - @David_Cameron how can you tell us that the public don't have an appetite for it?"

  6. What is the worm?

    During the BBC's coverage of tonight's debate, there will be much talk of "the worm". It's a way of measuring the reaction of an audience of 50 undecided voters to what the leaders say, as Reeta Chakrabarti explains .

  7. AstraZeneca statement

    More on the news that AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot has withdrawn his name from the letter signed by 100 business leaders supporting the Conservatives' economic policies. He said: "I support policies that reinforce a competitive tax environment and encourage investment in the UK. Neither I nor AstraZeneca endorse any political party and while I support such policies my name should not be used in the context of the letter."

  8. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Keith Lloyd, Costa Blanca, Spain:

    Won't be any difference than Parliament, always slagging each other off there.

  9. Take part in the debate

    @olliet_uk

    Tweets:

    Guess who's been invited to tonights UK television debate between the major party leaders? Me. Booya! #leadersdebate

  10. Neil Underwood

    @nealu_freelance

    Tweets:

    I'm only watching tonight's #leadersdebate if it's hosted by Mrs Merton

  11. Kamal Ahmed, BBC business editor

    @bbckamal

    tweets:

    Whoops. @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot has withdrawn his name from the business letter supporting Conservatives

  12. Nick Clegg

    @nickclegg

    Tweets:

    Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister@nick_clegg

    Just catching up on a few stats and figures before the #leadersdebate tonight. #StrongerEconomy #FairerSociety.

  13. McGuinness 'philosophical'

    Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is "philosophical" about Sinn Fein's exclusion from tonight's TV debate, along with Northern Ireland's other parties. He told the BBC he would "get on with fighting" the election campaign but said he wanted to hear those leaders taking part to commit to an "end to austerity", particularly the "targeting of children with disabilities" and "families with children". Sinn Fein MPs do not take up their seats in the Commons.

  14. Doorstep decisions

    Pollster Lord Ashcroft has been speaking to undecided voters in Thurrock, Essex, and Brentford, west London, about their reaction to street campaigning. His blog says : "While some in the groups confessed to peeking from upstairs curtains to avoid opening the door to a canvasser, there was still an appetite for the traditional doorstep conversation: 'You can send me bits of paper all you like, but I’ve got questions. You can’t ask a piece of paper questions. Knock on my door!'"

  15. Jamie Ross,

    @JamieRoss7

    Tweets:

    I've just got back to my Premier Inn and Paddy Ashdown is checking in.

  16. Gilberdyke Keith

    @ExBROUGH

    Tweets:

    #leadersdebate Will the show open to the soundtrack of The Magnificent Seven?

  17. Backing for Labour

    The SDLP - along with Northern Ireland's other parties - weren't invited to take part in tonight's debate. But the party's Alex Attwood says his MPs might back a Labour government in the next parliament "if it closes the door on austerity". He says his party wants to hear Ed Miliband use the debate to commit to more funding for Northern Ireland.

    Alex Attwoodbbc

    If Labour steps up to the mark, if it closes the door on austerity, if it recognises that the transition from the past to the future in Northern Ireland is longer and more difficult and costly and that they introduce special measures in terms of budget and welfare and investment then... we may vote for a Labour government but we will vote down a Tory government."

  18. Send us your comments

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Gareth Herron, Aberdeen

    Why are the Northern Ireland parties excluded from this debate? Plaid Cymru and SNP are both other specific to their own countries, yet NI parties get marginalised. This ‘national’ debate in no way represents 2 million of its Northern Irish citizens, and only goes further to disenfranchise them from British politics!

  19. Is there a normal immigration level?

    Reality Check

    Luton Airport arrivals area

    Immigration is set to be one of the four main issues covered in tonight's TV debate. And Nigel Farage has been talking about the subject this morning, saying he wants levels of migration to the UK to return to the "normal" levels of the 1990s.

    Which begs the question: is there a normal immigration level? Over to BBC Reality Check...

  20. Modern Nonsense

    @nonsense_modern

    Tweets:

    #leadersdebate drinking game: Drink when @Nigel_Farage smirks (sip it, don't down it or you'll be drunk two minutes in...)