Labour launches its manifesto, vowing to be the party of economic responsibility
Ed Miliband promises every policy will be fully funded and require no "additional borrowing"
The Conservatives are to announce that they would extend the 'Right-to-buy' to 1.3 million housing association tenants
Nick Clegg says the Lib Dems will not have another coalition with the Tories if they insist on £12bn welfare cuts
The Lib Dems launch a "five point plan" aimed at consumers and commuters
There are 24 days left until the general election
Gopichand Hinduja tells Bloomberg Television that he has met Ed Miliband, saying: "He’s very sensible and a person with depth. He may not look that visionary, but he has fire in his belly.” Mr Hinduja says he isn't worried about the prospect of Mr Miliband becoming Prime Minister, external . If the name Hinduja sounds familiar... this is why.
Text: 61124
George, Edinburgh:
Sadly some people still let their electoral views be dictated by class.
Carole Walker, political correspondent on the Conservative campaign, reports on an eventful walkabout in Alnwick.
This was David Cameron’s first proper walkabout on a carefully-controlled campaign of speeches to party activists and visits to businesses and breweries. He was in Alnwick in Northumberland, famous for its castle and gardens. It is a genteel picturesque town, but not safe Tory territory – the seat has been held by Sir Alan Beith for the Liberal Democrats for more than 40 years.
Security surrounding the visit was tighter than usual and the consternation amongst Tory aides was palpable when a busker with a ukulele appeared at the edge of the throng of reporters and camera crews following Mr Cameron along the High Street. He had his own song ready: “F… off back to Eton”. This was definitely not part of the campaign strategy.
Mr Cameron and his entourage swept on past him – the Tory leader did not appear to have noticed the unwelcome musical accompaniment. He stopped for brief chats about benefits, planning laws and mental health. One woman asked him to stop the name-calling in politics “Be a good boy” she said.
In the local butchers, he bought a pound of Northumberland sausages and insisted on paying for them himself. He passed by a pile of scones, saying: “I got in trouble with scones the other day”. That was a reference to one of the big controversies of the election – whether to put the jam or the cream on first.
Campaign strategists will be relieved that they got through this uncontrolled, unscripted event relatively unscathed. Far bigger challenges remain.
Here are a few quirkier things you might have missed:
Labour and the Conservatives are tied at 33% in this week’s Ashcroft National Poll, external , conducted over the past weekend for the Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft. Both parties are down since the last ANP two weeks ago (Labour by one point, the Tories by three); UKIP and the Lib Dems are each up three points at 13% and 9% respectively, with the Greens down one at 6% and the SNP unchanged at 4%.
The Guardian reports that the Conservatives appear to be drawing up plans to exempt workers on the minimum wage from paying income tax. The paper says a text intended for a senior aide to George Osborne - and passed to the Guardian - suggests the Tories are planning to make a fresh announcement on the minimum wage and tax in their manifesto, due to be launched on Tuesday., external
Andrew Neil
Daily and Sunday Politics
With Westminster's largest parties unveiling their general election manifestos this week, reporter Adam Fleming has looked into the archives to see how past launches were reported on - and the reaction they received. Watch Adam's film
As the early team heads home and the late team steps in here at Politics Live, it's time for a quick round-up of what's been happening so far today
@christopherhope
Quote MessageAfter I moaned on Twitter @Ed_Miliband did take my questions on the Green Belt and the 40p tax threshold, which was very good of him #GE2015
Text: 61124
Election live reader:
I am fed up of seeing SNP all over UK press. They DO NOT speak for Scotland and given that only a 3rd of electorate actually voted for them in the last Scottish Parliament elections and only a 3rd of eligible voters voted yes in Sept with the rest voting no or not at all, most scots are against them and actually very worried about their rise. I am worried that so many are impressed by Sturgeon without knowing a single thing about her dangerous brand of extreme left politics. I am a Conservative voter and in my 30s (yes we do exist in Scotland!) but, like probably I suspect lots of other Conservatives, end up voting labour just to try and keep SNP out. I do wonder how many other would be Conservative voters in Scotland also feel as I do that we can't voice our support or vote for Tories here!
Andrew Neil
Daily and Sunday Politics
As the parties begin launching their election manifestos - with Labour going first - Andrew Neil looks at claims made in weekend TV interviews. The Daily Politics presenter is making a daily film throughout the election campaign on what key figures are up to, and what's behind the political headlines of the day. Watch the film
The picture editor of the BBC News website Phil Coomes has published his latest photo diary for the election campaign.
Image source, Stephan Rousseau/PA@MichaelDugher
Quote MessageBumped into @CraigStanley10 on train back from our manifesto launch. He said "I thought @Ed_Miliband smashed it today". He certainly did!
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Graham Lipson:
I'm no Lib Dem, but Clegg's summary of Labour's "no extra borrowing" claim is exactly right. It's like an alcoholic saying they have no plans to increase the vodka - very good!!
Brian May has been appearing alongside Caroline Lucas, Green Party candidate for Brighton Pavilion - but says he's not asking people to vote for every Green candidate.
As well as backing Ms Lucas, the Queen guitarist was in Brighton to promote his own "Common Decency" campaign which he says "aims to drive forward real democracy, through political and social change - toward a more compassionate Britain".
Asked if he was urging the electorate across the country to vote Green, he said:
Quote MessageI would have to confess to having a leaning towards Green. An awful lot of people would like to vote Green but feel that it is a wasted vote so what I'm saying , in a sense, is I am not going to promise to ask people to vote for every Green candidate because in some cases strategically it may be better off doing something different."
You can find a full list of who is standing in Brighton Pavillion here.
@benrileysmith
Quote MessageNigel Farage has denied Ukip's campaign is "shambolic". Said the lack of "gloss" will appeal to normal voters."
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
David:
I'm not sure I would trust Ed Milliband with the weekly shop. So run the country absolutely not. Has he ever had a real job?
Text: 61124
Election live reader:
I've never been loyal to a party and I don't hold just 'left' or 'right' values. Its who I trust more to do what they say and what the conditions need. These last few weeks though, I've seen how the Tories will do anything to get in power, first with the negative personality attack on Ed and then failing that, the seemingly random and ill thought out 'positive' policies. Empty and shallow promises to appease us 'plebs'? It's not good enough. All I see is the same old Tory boys out for themselves, the wealthy and the powerful. Labour have their own faults no doubt and Ed sure is a bit of a dork, but I'll trust him any day over the Bullingdon boys club to represent the public interest and not just himself and cronies. You've got my vote Labour.
Text: 61124
Election live reader:
Believing Labour could be trusted with the economy again is like asking a fox not to eat the chickens in a coop