Summary

  • The Conservatives launch their manifesto, with David Cameron declaring “we are the party of working people”

  • They promise an extension of the right-to-buy scheme and 30 hours free childcare a week

  • The Green Party’s manifesto launch calls for action against climate change

  • It also promises steps to “restore and extend our public services”

  • There are 23 days left until polling day

Live Reporting

Victoria King, Alex Stevenson and Bernadette McCague

  1. Scottish spending cuts

    Jim Murphy and Nicola Sturgeon

    In Scotland austerity is on the agenda, as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon takes on the “Westminster consensus on cuts” while on the campaign trail in South Lanarkshire. It’s a message she emphasised in last week’s TV debates and will seek to do so again later, complaining of the “devastating impact” spending cuts are having on Scotland.

    The SNP face difficulties, though, after the Institute for Fiscal Studies said there was a £7.6bn hole in the nationalists’ tax and spending plans. Scottish Labour’s leader Jim Murphy, who’ll visit a nursery in Cumbernauld later, will say that’s bad news for working families. “The last thing they need is more austerity, but that is exactly what full fiscal autonomy would mean,” he’ll warn.

  2. Norman Smith, BBC assistant political editor

    @BBCNormanS

    tweets:

    Ah. I seem to be a bit early for Tory Party manifesto launch."

    Conservative manifesto launch

  3. Lord Ashcroft, pollster and former Tory deputy chairman

    @LordAshcroft

    tweets:

    The marginal seats poll for release 8am today are Tory held which need a swing to Labour of about 5% to change. Will they be blue or red?"

  4. 'Magic money tree'

    Conservative tree logoConservatives

    Labour isn't at all convinced that the Conservatives can raise £4.5bn from selling off council homes. Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds says that only raised £100m last year - and points out that home ownership is now at its lowest point for three decades. But Labour’s objections only go so far as the party supports right-to-buy.

    “The Tories can't stand up for working people. On their watch wages are down £1,600 and we've seen the longest fall in living standards since the 1870s. This is yet another uncosted, unfunded and unbelievable announcement from the Tories. Having exhausted the magic money tree, the Tories now want people to believe that they can magic up billions of pounds a year from selling off a few council homes.”

    Emma Reynolds, shadow housing minister

  5. YouGov, polling firm

    @YouGov

    tweets:

    Update: Lab lead at 1 - Latest YouGov / The Sun results 13th Apr - Con 33%, Lab 34%, LD 8%, UKIP 13%, GRN 6%; APP -12"

  6. RIP Ronnie

    Ronnie Carroll

    This morning also sees the sad news that election candidate Ronnie Carroll, who represented Britain at Eurovision in 1962 and 1963, died on Monday after a short illness. Mr Carroll was set to stand in Hampstead and Kilburn, after having previously tried his hardest to get no votes in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election. He wasn’t successful - as 29 people voted for him, presumably not including himself. Perhaps he’ll be better remembered for his hit Roses Are Red. More here.

  7. Income tax change?

    Ross Hawkins
    Political correspondent

    Possibly - just possibly - we may see the Conservatives announce another policy today about raising either the minimum wage or the personal allowance. It would mean all those people on minimum wage might not pay income tax. It’s not confirmed, though - just a possibility for later.

  8. Right-to-buy

    HousingPA

    Unlike Labour, who weren’t tempted by a headline-grabbing flagship policy for their campaign launch yesterday, the Conservatives are unveiling an eye-catching idea as they reveal their plan for Britain this morning. The right-to-buy scheme, which gives housing association tenants the opportunity to buy their homes at a discount, is to be extended so that 1.3 million families can benefit. It’s being paid for by a sell-off of the most expensive council housing, which the Tories think will raise a handy £4.5bn every year. And there’s also a plan to “unlock brownfield land” through a £1bn fund that will result in 400,000 new homes. Our story has the full details.

  9. Not just climate change

    Natalie BennettEPA

    Not that this is the only manifesto launch taking place today. Just before the Conservatives, the Greens will be unveiling their plan "For The Common Good". Tackling climate change is front and centre - as you might expect - but the Greens have a raft of other policies on offer, including addressing privatisation in the NHS and challenging the Westminster mainstream’s “failed” approach to deficit reduction. Party leader Natalie Bennett will be joined by the Greens’ only MP in the last parliament, Caroline Lucas, for the launch in east London from 10.00.

    “From ending the scandal of cold homes to investing in a public transport system that puts the public first, our plans will make a positive difference to people's lives, create new jobs and help protect our environment. We have put investing in a greener future at the heart of our manifesto and only Green MPs will demand Parliament delivers change that reflects the scale of the climate problem.”

    Natalie Bennett, Green leader

  10. 'The party of working people'

    David CameronAP

    David Cameron’s bid to remain in No 10 is the big story of the day. The Conservative manifesto launch, which will take place around 11.00 this morning, is centred around Mr Cameron’s claim that the Tories offer voters “security at every stage of your life” as the PM pledges: “We are the party of working people.” The pitch is that whether you’re young and looking for training, or raising a family, or ill, or want to buy a home, or reaching retirement - pretty much everyone, then - the Conservatives are “there for you”.

    “My message to Britain is this: we have come this far together. Let’s not waste the past five years. Now is not a time to put it all at risk, but to build on the progress we have made. We are the party of working people. So if you want a more secure Britain... if you want a brighter future for your family, and for you… then together, let’s build on what we've done – and see this through.”

    David Cameron, Conservative leader

  11. Good morning

    Here we are again, your Politics Live team, Victoria King and Alex Stevenson. It's day two of Manifesto Week. Yesterday, Ed Miliband came out fighting with his and today it's the turn of the Conservatives. Stick with us and you won't miss a thing.