David Cameron will be making a speech from Crewe shortly, in which he'll set out the party's plans for the north west of England. We'll be bringing you live updates as soon as he starts talking.

Image source, Nicola and Kathryn Braithwaite

The bride-to-be whose hen party enjoyed an impromptu visit from Ed Miliband has said she’ll vote for his party at the general election.

Nicola Braithwaite, a family law solicitor, said: "I don't agree with the legal aid cuts and therefore won't be voting Conservative.”

She was enjoying afternoon tea and drinks with friends at the Westminster Hotel in Chester when one of the group spotted the Labour leader’s bus outside.

She told BBC News via email that she got invited on to the bus to meet him, adding: "He was lovely and we had a brief chat then I left and he came to the door to see all of the others.”

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Here's the chance to see the BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason as you've never seen him before - doing an impression of Harry Enfield's "Loadsa Money!" character. It's not for the faint-hearted, we warn you, but he's taking a look at voter groups - think Mondeo man, Worcester woman - and whether they still have any meaning in today's political world.

Cheryl Jemmett,Cardiff:

Saffy Casper:

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Scott, London:

We're into the second week of election manifesto launches, with the SNP due to publish its plans in just under an hour. It's chosen an impressive backdrop for the launch - an indoor climbing centre in Edinburgh.

How does that compare to the others? Here's a look at some of the eye-catching venues chosen by the parties.

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We've been wondering where David Cameron got the idea for calling his devolution impact plan the "Carlisle Principle". One possibility could be that it's a thinly-veiled reference to the Siege of Carlisle in 1315 when Robert the Bruce led a raid into England and went to besiege Carlisle. He was eventually driven off, taking a large number of casualties.

Alternatively it could be a more general reference to towns close to the English-Scots border, like Carlisle, being adversely affected by competition close by. For example, if goods were cheaper just a short drive away in Scotland, sales could fall for English businesses.

Carole Walker
Conservative campaign correspondent

Labour points out there is already a commitment to reviewing the impact of devolution within the Smith Commission. That will not deter David Cameron who has been using ever more spine-chilling language to warn of the dangers if Labour gets into power with the support of the SNP. Both Labour and the SNP have ruled out a coalition. But the Tories have seized on comments from Labour's Angela Eagle who said her party would talk to any other party represented at Westminster to get it's Queen Speech through, as evidence of the potential for some form of deal.

The danger for the Conservatives is that voters will be put off by such a negative message, effectively trying to scare voters south of the border into backing the Tories. The issue will undoubtedly overshadow Mr Cameron's other theme today, on jobs - with a pledge that 60% of new jobs will be outside London and the south east, the same ratio as over the past five years.

It is a risk Conservative strategists believe is worth taking as they strive to get some fresh momentum into their campaign.

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Carole Walker
Conservative campaign correspondent

David Cameron is out campaigning in marginal seats across the north-west but his real focus is further north on what he says is the threat posed by the SNP to the rest of the UK.

He is promising that under a future Conservative government the Cabinet Office and Treasury will conduct an annual review of the impact of all devolved policies on the rest of the UK. He would establish "the Carlisle principle" designed to make sure Scottish devolution does not work to the detriment of the rest of the UK.

Election live reader:

It can be a tricky business trying to predict the outcome of an election - and Peter Kellner, president of polling company YouGov, has changed his mind. Until last week he expected the Conservatives to remain the largest party at Westminster after 7 May, but now the contest "looks too close to call", he writes, external .

Citing yesterday's YouGov/Sunday Times poll, which gave Labour a 3% lead, he said:

Robert Peston
Economics editor

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The BBC's economics editor Robert Peston says that because of the way that Scotland's resources are determined by the UK's budget, it may be completely reasonable for the SNP to campaign to end austerity for the whole of the UK. But the consequences of its decision to exercise that logic are unpredictable. He considers some of those potential consequences, including investment paralysis for businesses, a sharp and destabilising fall in the pound and ultimately, perhaps, another election. Read more.

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LBC

Image source, Chester Chronicle

You may have seen our story at the weekend of Ed Miliband being mobbed by a hen party in Chester. Well, LBC radio has this morning been speaking to one of the group, who said she felt the Labour leader was a little "intimidated" by the women.

Anna Heaford, who joked on Twitter that Mr Miliband was the stripped hired for the occasion, told LBC Mr Miliband was "just kind of lingering on the steps, waving tentatively",

"I think he was kind of intimidated by the cackle of all of us screaming at him."

Apparently there was a woman "who looked quite ferocious" in Mr Miliband's entourage: "I heard her saying to security, 'have you got this under control?'"