Summary

  • The Conservatives say their manifesto will have a commitment to build four new nuclear missile-armed submarines

  • Defence Secretary Michael Fallon accuses Labour of using the Trident replacement as a "bargaining chip" with the SNP

  • Ed Miliband says Mr Fallon had "demeaned himself and his office" after being described as a backstabber by Mr Fallon

  • Nicola Sturgeon says the SNP will not agree any formal power-sharing deal with Labour unless it drops plans to renew Trident

  • Labour proposes a new fund to provide one-to-one careers advice for school pupils in England

  • There are 28 days until the general election

Live Reporting

Dominic Howell and Andy McFarlane

  1. UKIP candidate's x-rated job

    One of the more quirky political stories gaining interest today features a UKIP council candidate who says he is "not ashamed" of his sideline as a porn star. John Langley, who's representing the party in Bristol's Stockwood ward, says he's worked in the adult entertainment industry for 40 years. UKIP encouraged him to be "open and honest" about his career, he adds. Get the full story here .

  2. Guido Fawkes

    @GuidoFawkes

    tweets:

    That's it. Nominations are closed. No pulling out now, or putting up new candidates. *Goes to that folder marked wronguns*

  3. How to make the cut with voters

    Andrew Neil
    Daily and Sunday Politics

    The Daily Politics is touring the UK, calling in on voters at 18 locations and asking for their views on the general election. Today's stop is in Somerset. Reporter Giles Dilnot spoke to Barry Leiper, Paul Roddan, Paige Manvill and Kyle Makowski, who work at Wells Cathedral Stonemasons in Cheddar. They told him who might be getting their vote on 7 May - and the issues that may sway them. Watch the film and group interview

    Giles Dilnot with Barry Leiper, Paul Roddan, Paige Manvill and Kyle Makowski

  4. 'Really damaging'

    Green Party leader Natalie Bennett also chips in over the personal attacks being leveled at the Labour's Ed Miliband. She said: "This kind of personalised attack is the kind of Punch and Judy politics that is really damaging our political fabric."

  6. Miliband attack 'very personal' - Farage

    Nigel FarageGetty Images

    On the news that Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Ed Miliband had "stabbed his own brother in the back" to lead Labour, UKIP's Nigel Farage has now waded into the debate. Speaking on a visit to Broadstairs in Kent, he said: "The attack on Ed Miliband was very, very personal, calling him a backstabber. "I just fear that we have an election campaign that is turning into an American, negative, shouting match between two parties, and I don't think the public like it. "I certainly don't."

  7. IDS on Miliband: 'A man that cannot be trusted'

    Iain Duncan Smith

    Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has joined the row over Ed Miliband and Trident, saying the Labour leader had shown he would "climb over broken glass to get to the leadership of the party".

    Mr Duncan Smith said he was "totally in support" of Michael Fallon who called Mr Miliband a backstabber.

    Iain Duncan Smith said he understood Mr Miliband advised his brother, David not to stand against Gordon Brown "because he'd be able to do that after the election and then promptly stood against him.

    "This is what the defence secretary is pointing out - a man that cannot be trusted and therefore cannot be trusted not to do a deal with Nicola Sturgeon about defence, that is the key point."

  8. Add to the debate

    Email politics@bbc.co.uk

    Saffy Casper:

    I am neither a Conservative or Labour voter. But the more and more I hear the negative comments of the Conservative Party, the more I am turned off by this election. We want to hear about policy and NOT petty mud slinging. Every time the Tories are threatened by an announcement or comment their negative machine along with the Daily Torygraph go into over drive. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  9. Ben Glaze, @DailyMirror political correspondent

    @benglaze

    tweets:

    The @libdemvoice Twitter feed is advertising "the funniest dinner you'll ever have". Will #pigeon be on the menu? #GE2015

  10. George Eaton, Political Editor, New Statesman

    @georgeeaton

    tweets:

    Labour has just held Clause V meeting to agree manifesto contents ahead of launch on Monday.

  11. Clegg keen to join challengers debate

    Nick CleggPA

    Lib Dem leader NIck Clegg has said he would love to be included in the so-called challengers' debate, alongside Ed Miliband and the leaders of UKIP, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party.

    He told reporters on his battle bus earlier: "I wish there were more leaders' debates, to be honest. I enjoy them ... they get people excited but also from my point of view ... there's no great vested interest in the British press that is gagging to tell the Liberal Democrat story for us, never has been and no doubt never will be.

    "I would love to be part of this so-called challengers' debate. I can't opt in. The broadcasters told us it was not an option ... because we are in government. We asked them constantly. I've done, my team have done it, of course I would."

  12. Add to the debate

    Email politics@bbc.co.uk

    Justin Stone, Leicester:

    As someone with right of centre views I find today’s Trident debate so dispiriting. We are not a big power any more, we cannot use them without American say-so, they are a waste of money.

    What is frustrating is that I imagine that a large proportion of the electorate are not fussed on this issue, yet the Tories have latched onto it to launch a personal attack on Milliband.

    I don’t believe that it’s not because they have no policies but they lack the conviction to argue for what they believe in – a smaller state.

    They should have the nerve to rise above the inevitable ott reaction that would come from this point of view and make the case. As it is, today is the day that Cameron lost the election

  13. Ben Riley Smith, political correspondent at The Telegraph

    @benrileysmith

    tweets:

    The Lib Dem battle bus has just killed a pigeon.

  14. Nick Boles twitter fail?

    @robdelaney

    But it didn't stop the public continuing to pile in. This tweet is possibly our favourite reply. It comes from Rob Delaney who tweets :

    A beautiful horse who can explain his dreams to him?

  15. Nick Boles twitter fail?

    @NickBolesMP

    In fairness to Mr Boles he did answer his own question with this tweet :

    Answer: the man who abandoned the Syrians to their fate and the woman who wants to scrap our nuclear deterrent.

  16. Nick Boles twitter fail?

    @mrdavidwhitley

    and then tweeted :

    @NickBolesMP H from Steps, maybe?

  17. Nick Boles twitter fail?

    @mrdavidwhitley

    And another response from David Whitley who tweeted first:

    @NickBolesMP Is it Martin Clunes?

  18. Nick Boles twitter fail?

    @Welshracer

    Twitter reacted in what some might consider to be predictable fashion.

    WelshRacer tweeted :

    @NickBolesMP Vladimir Putin

  19. Nick Boles twitter fail?

    @NickBolesMP

    Pity poor old Nick Boles, the incumbent Conservative candidate for Grantham and Stamford. In trying to defend the comments of his colleague Defence Secretary Michael Fallon he took to twitter to ask the following .

    Ask yourself this. Who does Vladimir Putin want to see running Britain after 7th May?

  20. Tim Montgomerie, The Times

    @montie

    tweets:

    0% chance Fallon wld have written attack without No10's approval.This is deliberate attempt by Tories to spotlight Labour leader's character