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. Hardline May

    Theresa May

    Home Secretary Theresa May whistles through her greatest hits, including her record of excluding more hate preachers from Britain than any of her predecessors in the job. She offers voters a hardline choice on national security and contrasts "a coalition of chaos" involving Labour and the SNP or "stable, competent majority government led by David Cameron".

  2. Kylie Maclellan, UK Political Correspondent for Reuters

    @kyliemaclellan

    tweets:

    Nicky Morgan, George Osborne, now Theresa May, is this a manifesto launch or a Conservative leadership contest?

  3. Working class politics

    The chancellor concludes:

    "This is unashamedly a manifesto for the working people of Britain. It's an offer of hope and reward and it's a commitment to a brighter and more secure future for this country which we love."

    George Osborne

  4. Isabel Hardman, Assistant editor, The Spectator

    @IsabelHardman

    tweets:

    This manifesto launch is a cabinet relay. Osborne hands over to Theresa May

  5. Chancellor's pitch

    The chancellor says "others threaten jobs and home with an anti-business agenda and economic agenda". We think he means Labour. George Osborne then contrasts their threats with the Conservatives' "truly national recovery felt across our United Kingdom" offered by their manifesto. He says it's a "comprehensive credible blueprint to close the north-south gap in Britain", too. Then comes a pitch to the low and middle paid, who get to "keep more of your money tax-free".

  6. Miliband on right to buy

    The Conservatives are claiming they can fund right-to-buy with a bounced cheque."

    Ed Miliband, Labour leader

  7. James Forsyth, Spectator

    @JGForsyth

    tweets:

    Nicky Morgan up first, am told she has the largest personal vote of any Tory MP in a marginal seat.

  8. Osborne continues

    George Osborne

    And now here's Chancellor George Osborne, who reminds everyone that in 2010 David Cameron promised to reduce the deficit and "unleash the potential" of Britain's business. It's all very Budget-y. "Now, in this manifesto, we commit to finish the job - that - we - have - started." Lots of emphasis there.

  9. 'Blue collar vote'

    Norman Smith
    Assistant political editor

    This manifesto is all about trying to appeal to working class voters. To present the Conservative Party as a broad based party and to hunt out the blue collar Tory vote which Margaret Thatcher was able to do. It's pretty late in the day though.

  10. Morgan begins

    Nicky Morgan

    Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is on her feet as the Conservative manifesto launch event gets under way. "This manifesto sets out what else we offer the next generation," she says. It's rather a long list, from "a good primary school place for every child", to institutions offering "the best maths and science education in the world". Lots of applause as she declares her pride at being "a member of this team".

  11. Owen Meredith, Head of Public Affairs at the Professional Publishers Association

    @OwenMeredithPPA

    tweets:

    Worrying that @TheGreenParty back "legislation to implement the Leveson system". Direct attack on a free press #manifesto #election2015

  12. Pic: Samantha and George in the front row

    Samantha Cameron, George Osborne and Nicky Morgan

  13. On the campaign trail

    Nick Clegg selfieGetty Images

    Here’s a quick rundown of where the three main party leaders are focusing their efforts today from David Cowling, editor of BBC Political Research:

    • David Cameron is in Swindon for his party’s manifesto launch. The party is defending two seats here - Swindon South being especially vulnerable, with a recent Lord Ashcroft poll putting the Tories and Labour neck-and-neck.
    • Ed Miliband is in Loughborough, a Conservative gain from Labour in 2010. Almost one in five votes were Lib Dem five years ago and the Conservatives and Labour will be scrapping for these. He’ll also be hoping to boost Labour in the three Leicester seats it’s defending, too.
    • Nick Clegg is in London, trying to help out in his old leadership rival Simon Hughes’ Bermondsey & Old Southwark seat. All the suggestions are this might be a tough fight - in the 2014 London Borough elections the Lib Dems lost 12 of their 25 seats on Southwark council. Later Mr Clegg will head to Lewes, where an Ashcroft poll suggests Norman Baker is doing well against the Conservatives.

  14. Kevin Maguire, Daily Mirror associate editor

    @Kevin_Maguire

    tweets:

    Sneak - "cough" - preview of the Con new election slogan: "'Hurry! our sale ends May 7!" They nicked it from DFS...

  15. JamesTapsfield, Press Association

    @JamesTapsfield

    tweets:

    Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine playing at Tory manifesto launch. Will Cameron keep to his habit of coming in to Killers?"

  16. Pic: Any minute now...

    Conservative launch
    Conservative launch

  17. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Roger, Edinburgh:

    What exactly is this whole frenzy about buying or owning your own home ? With people living longer, by the time we die our kid's will probably be in their 40's. I've always rented and don't feel any need whatsoever to buy a property or "home". Home is being with the people you love and care about, it's got nothing to do with owning nor buying brick's and mortar.

  18. Google election

    The Guardian

    Laptop fingersPA

    A certain search engine has released its top queries for the party leaders over the last week - providing an interesting insight into what voters really care about as this election campaign continues. Their ages, heights and education backgrounds are the top queries on Google, but there are one or two distinguishing questions too: people want to know if Natalie Bennett really is British, what Nigel Farage actually said about HIV in last week’s leader’s debate, and whether Nicola Sturgeon is an MP. The Guardian has all the answers.

  19. Jack Doyle, Daily Mail political correspondent

    @jackwdoyle

    tweets:

    Greens reckon they can raise 30 billion from tax avoidance and evasion. Is that six time the Tory estimate and five times Labours?"

  20. Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent

    @iainjwatson

    tweets:

    Ed Miliband at Brush Traction in Leics and confirms they don't have the zero hours jobs he'd clamp down on #ge2015"

    Ed Miliband