Carole Walker
Political correspondent

David Cameron was heckled earlier. It was a tiny episode, but the reason it’s interesting is that so many of these events have been so tightly controlled and so restricted that there have been very few opportunities for members of the public to make their point to the prime minister. We’ve had only one open walkabout so far on the campaign trail - although we’re hearing there are going to be more.

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Roy Mason, the Labour defence secretary under Harold Wilson, died yesterday. His obituary , externalfeatures in today’s Telegraph. Lord Mason, a Yorkshire MP and former miner, became Northern Ireland Secretary under James Callaghan and was, the paper notes, arguably “the British politician most determined to tackle the IRA” - after Margaret Thatcher, that is. After accepting a life peerage in 1987 he remained a familiar sight in Westminster, including in Annie’s Bar, where he pursued his passion for tasteful neckwear by holding an annual competition for the most revolting tie.

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Last week’s UKIP manifesto launch saw a journalist jeered by party activists for asking why the party’s manifesto was a bit lacking on ethnic diversity. Asked about it on Magic Radio today, Nigel Farage has insisted that the “premise was wrong” to that question because there was “one fully black person”, as well as “one of our leading spokesmen” who is “half-black”. Mr Farage added:

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Image source, AFP

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has been studiously going over all the parties' plans for tax and spending. Now it's turned its attention to the SNP. The SNP is aiming for "full fiscal autonomy for Scotland" - full control over taxation, employment, welfare, etc. But the independent IFS says the consequence would be a growing "fiscal gap" between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

According to new analysis that gap would grow from £7.6bn in 2015/16 to £9.7bn in 2019/20.

But the SNP has rejected the £7.6bn figure, saying Scotland could use additional economic powers to grow the economy,

The IFS has an answer to that, saying that to close the gap even over a longer period - up to 15 years - would require a "step change" in Scotland economic performance.

Newsnight

Here’s a bit more from Norman Tebbit, who’s told Newsnight that David Cameron’s failure to command a decent lead in the polls comes down to the fact that he’s just not as connected with the electorate as politicians were in the good old days.

Despite all this, Lord Tebbit says the Tories can still win a majority if Mr Cameron focuses on security. “A hospital is a wonderful asset unless it's been bombed by an Islamic State lunatic in which case it's useless.”

Some close to the knuckle humour from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt this afternoon. The Conservative - pictured here earlier this year - arrived late for a Health and Care Debate at the British Library in central London. Apologising, he joked: "I think we had a toxic top down reorganisation of London traffic that nobody voted for and nobody wanted."

Image source, AP

Image source, PA

Boris Johnson is seriously concerned that some people might consider voting for a party other than the Conservatives. "I think people are slowly starting to focus on this election, on the choice that is before them and on the record of Conservative government in pulling the economy out of the mire, getting it back on the road,” he said while on the campaign trail in South Thanet. “There is a real risk other parties could mistakenly persuade people there was any other option."

Mr Johnson has raised eyebrows for campaigning outside the capital, but says he doesn't intend to make a habit of it. “Unless I specifically tell you otherwise, I am pounding the streets of London every day,” he added.

Laura Kuenssberg
Newsnight Chief Correspondent

Norman Tebbit has told Newsnight that David Cameron's repeated warnings about the SNP are "puzzling" and "pointless", may push Scots to vote tactically for Labour, and are a distraction from the "prime target" which is getting 326 Conservative MPs elected. Lord Tebbit has been a long time critic of David Cameron. But he is sharply dismissive of the strategy, and David Cameron's leadership saying he does not have a "hinterland" of experience, unlike previous generations of politicians who were "real men".

Carole Walker
Conservative campaign correspondent

On David Cameron's campaign visit to Calder Valley a heckler at the back of the crowd shouted: "It's the NHS that's dying... you're not mentioning that are you?" The man was taken away by security staff.

After a frantic hour of debate, the closing statements - 30 seconds for each spokesperson to sum up their party's pitch to voters on foreign affairs...

- Douglas Alexander, Labour Party, wraps up by offering a "clear choice" between the Conservatives and Labour. "It's time for hard-headed patriotism - it's time for Labour," he says

- Patrick Harvie, Green Party, says Britain should be proud of its contribution in the world but adds that "we need to go further" by tackling free trade and cutting back on arms trade

- Tim Farron, Liberal Democrats, says "a liberal world is a safer world". His approach is about "engagement, friendship and hard work". He suggests that "doing the right thing and acting in Britain's interests coincide"

- William Dartmouth, UKIP, offers a vision of a Britain which is outward-looking and says it's his opponents who are "pessimistic"

- Philip Hammond, Conservatives, says what's really needed is a "strong economy" - you can't have strong defences without it. "A vote for the Conservatives on 7 May is a vote for a strong, prosperous future for Britain," he wraps up.

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

The next round of questions in the foreign affairs debate focuses on aid:

- The Conservatives' Philip Hammond says it's important that the budget is used as effectively as possible. It has to work "with the grain" of Britain's other objectives, he says

- Labour's Douglas Alexander says Labour's position is that "we should stick to the commitment" of 0.7% of gross national income being reserved for international development spending

- The Liberal Democrats' Tim Farron says ringfencing aid is "simply about doing the right thing" - even though the Foreign Office faces significant cuts. "We do not balance the books on the backs of the world's poor," he says

- UKIP's William Donaldson says it's "rubbish" that his party would do exactly that. He says the government doesn't have the cash to spend the money "wisely". The aid commitment was aimed at "Guardian voters", he says

- The Greens’ Patrick Harvie thinks that Britain should be spending even more on aid. “There is a really strong argument that the UK, a very wealthy country, should be contributing more to the common weal,” he says

George Osborne is issuing warnings about the impact of what he calls an "Ed Miliband Scottish nationalist government". He was on a campaign visit to Lewes in East Sussex - which included a trip to a brewery. He was asked why the Conservatives' message on the economy was not, apparently, translating into better polling results. Mr Osborne replied:

"It's a very close election. I think people know that and there is a very stark choice for people here, which is, do you want an Ed Miliband Scottish nationalist government. They've already cancelled the A27 around here.

"You know, the south coast won't get a look in under a Scottish national Ed Miliband Government."

The alternative, he said, was to "go for the strong local Conservative MP" and for David Cameron's government with the economic plan that is delivering jobs".

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Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

UKIP's William Dartmouth rejects the idea that an EU referendum could hasten a break-up of the UK. He says "we're either one nation or we're not" before defending free trade in North America, where there isn't also "free movement of people". The Greens' Patrick Harvie says he supports "fair trade" rather than "free trade". But Mr Dartmouth continues his offensive - or at least he would do if he wasn't simultaneously interrupted by, um, everyone. Douglas Alexander wonders why Britain would give up its position in the Europe. "Even Margaret Thatcher was determined that Britain would always have a seat at the table," he tells Philip Hammond. Mr Dartmouth, butting in, suggests Britain doesn't have much say in the Council of Europe: "We don't have the influence."

Nick Clegg and Vince Cable are taking part in a drama therapy class in Richmond, south west London, run in association with the mental health charity Mind, for vulnerable adults, to boost their self esteem and confidence. At the moment the students, all mature students, are doing a movement class and Nick is calling out different speeds for them to respond to.

The theatre has benefited from some of the £80,000 funding from the Dept of Business. It opens in June.

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

Philip Hammond confirms "there will be a referendum" on the EU whether the Tories renegotiation is successful or not. "We will look at the package we will achieve... we rule nothing out."

Patrick Harvie denies that the Greens are split on Europe. "I don't think it's the most urgent priority facing us," he says of an EU referendum. He talks about the EU-US trade deal, which he says will hand power to corporations and make Europe "even less democratic, even less accountable".