Would Natalie Bennett ban the Grand National? She says her party wants a "complete review" of animal protection issues - including in horse racing.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett tells Andrew Marr there has been an "undue focus on the deficit, and less of a thought out consideration of the kind of society we need to have". Their manifesto - to be released next week - will, she says, spell out how the deficit would be reduced over the term of the next parliament. Her party today has announced they would introduce a 60p rate of income tax for people earning more than £150,000.

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The Mail on Sunday's Peter Hitchens says that by raising the question of an SNP tail wagging a UK dog - and also the fate of Trident - the Conservatives have made it quite plain that the only operating majority they could really rely on is a "grand coalition" with Labour. Something, he says, that people should be asked about.

And we're off. Andrew Marr will shortly be hearing from Harriet Harman and George Osborne, as well as Green leader leader Natalie Bennett - plus reviewing the papers with Lesley Riddoch and Peter Hitchens.

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How policies are paid for shows the values of political parties, Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey tells BBC News. "The Conservatives want to pay for their policies, tax breaks for the better-off, on the backs of the working poor, people on low and middle incomes, and the disabled. We don't think that's a very good value for our society. And the Labour Party want to borrow so much, they're actually asking future generations to pay."

The Liberal Democrats will be publishing "in huge detail" how they will fund their manifesto policies later this morning, Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey told BBC News. "How we're going fund our investment in NHS and in the schools, how we're going to fund our tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes, and how we're going to balance the books as well. I think we're the only party coming out with the detail that the public need. The challenge today will be to the Conservatives and Labour to come clean on how they're going to fund their policies."

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Reality TV star Joey Essex has been travelling in the unfamiliar pastures of political news this past week, as he met different party leaders in a bid to learn more about politics. He joins the BBC's John Pienaar this morning - alongside campaigning politicians, including:Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin; Shadow Leader of the House Angela Eagle; Treasury minister Priti Patel; Labour's Gareth Thomas; Simon Hughes of the Lib Dems; the Green Party's Caroline Lucas; and former Tory MP turned UKIP supporter Neil Hamilton.

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The Greens have announced plans to raise the top rate of income tax to 60% for the top 1% of earners. The tax rate for high earners stands at 45%. "For too long now the economy in this country has worked for those at the top, while failing everyone else," says Green leader Natalie Bennett.

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Stepping into the ring with Andrew Neil this morning will be Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem chief secretary to the Treasury, who's facing a tough battle to retain his own seat. He'll be joined by his departmental colleague David Gauke, the Conservative financial secretary to the Treasury, and Rick Nye of the polling organisation Populus.

Political junkies will want to stay glued to the telly today - the wealth of interviews begins at 9am with Andrew Marr talking to George Osborne, Harriet Harman, and Natalie Bennett. Kevin Spacey, who plays the cynical political operator Frank Underwood on Netflix's House of Cards, will also be appearing - perhaps he can give the others some tips on how to turn this closely-fought campaign on its head...