Ed Miliband has criticised David Cameron's foreign policy, including failures in post-conflict planning in Libya
A row has blown up over the Labour leader's words, with the Conservatives reacting angrily to Mr Miliband's accusations
David Cameron has outlined proposals for "English votes for English laws"
Lib Dem Treasury minister Danny Alexander has said there are concerns in the financial markets over a minority government
There are 13 days until the general election
Labour leader Ed Miliband says David Cameron's government has "stepped away from the world" and he uses the example of Ukraine and Russia to illustrate his point.
"Was there ever a more apt symbol of Britain’s isolation and waning influence than when David Cameron was absent as the leaders of Germany and France tried to negotiate peace with President Putin?” he asks.
David Cameron then turns to the issue of Scotland.
He says: "The fact [is] that the SNP is threatening to wipe out Labour in many constituencies. That is something that every pollster, every expert is saying. It is an emerging fact of this general election. I am responsible for many things but I’m not responsible for Labour’s weak performance in Scotland.
"But in response to this fact I think it is important to point out to people the dangers that this poses. That you could have a situation where nationalists from one part of the country, are calling the shots for the rest of the country in a weak Labour government."
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Graeme Lowe:
If Ed Miliband thinks there is political profit to be made from the Libya situation why didn't he raise the matter at PMQs? Raising this issue at election time leaves a nasty taste. Desperate stuff.
Alastair Stewart, ITV News
Predictably David Cameron is asked about the crisis in the Mediterranean and the row over Ed Miliband's speech on foreign affairs - which is going on right now.
He says the loss of life in the Mediterranean has been “appalling” and he says he has taken action to ensure that the UK plays its full role as it “always has".
Quote MessageLet me be clear about what Ed Miliband has said this morning. I’ve learned as prime minister that is it so important in a dangerous and uncertain world that you show clarity consistency and strength on these foreign policy issues and I think, frankly, people will look at these ill-judged remarks and they will reach their own conclusions."
Ed Miliband has just begun his speech on foreign policy at Chatham House.
He calls for an end to the "small-minded isolationism" that he says has characterised this government; and says David Cameron has presided over the biggest loss of UK influence in a generation.
Robert Hutton, Bloomberg tweets
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Richard Plackett:
Interesting that the Conservatives today are trying to explain one of their policies (English Votes for English Laws) whilst the Labour campaign is entirely negative criticising PM re Libya. I would much prefer Labour spent their time answering the IFS question about how much they plan to borrow so that I get a better understanding of their Economic policies.
Ian Dunt, Editor of Politics.co.uk
Prime Minister David Cameron:
Quote MessageIf English MPs do not have the right to vote on health and education in Scotland why should Scottish MPs have the right to determine what happens in English hospitals and English schools.
Text: 61124
Caz:
Scotland wanted a devolved government so why do they now wish to vote on laws that only affect England? Keep to Scottish matters and leave England to deal with theirs or do we revert to England voting on laws or matters only affecting Scotland. I am English and want England for English votes!
The prime minister is outlining his plans for English votes for English laws. David Cameron says keeping the United Kingdom strong means "a fair deal for all the regions".
But that doesn’t mean an English parliament, he says.
The Lib Dem's Danny Alexander has unveiled a dossier of analysis by financial institutions, think-tanks and City experts which claims a Labour-led government could wipe £10bn off the British economy and add £800 a year to average mortgages.
The chief secretary to the Treasury said, on a visit to Aberdeen, that he "feared for the future of the country", with an administration supported by the SNP or UKIP, as the government would be pulled "sharply to left or right" and it would "jam the brakes" on the economic recovery.
He said: "These scenarios are real possibilities, for which we would all pay a real price. Already we are seeing the markets warning of the dangers.
"Put simply, the idea that an unstable minority government would have the confidence of business and the markets is for the birds."
He also produced a "reply" to the now notorious note left by Liam Byrne, his predecessor at the Treasury.
It reads:
Quote MessageSorry for the late reply - I've been busy fixing the economy. The deficit halved, jobs up, growth up. That's the Lib Dem record. We won't let you - or the Tories - screw it up."
Paul Waugh, PoliticsHome.com
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Stuart Robb:
Nicola Sturgeon is not ignoring the will of the people (that voted for her party) as the voter in Scotland that chose to elect a SNP candidate are doing so in part to stop a Tory government.
Rather than mud slinging at Nicola, perhaps he should of instead highlight how broken the current system is, that the party which had only 36% support of the country (Conservative share of total votes in 2010) and only 16% in Scotland should be allowed to run the House of Commons?
Kylie MacLellan, Reuters tweets
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has responded to the Conservatives' English-only manifesto and the idea of English votes for English laws.
Quote MessageI've made clear on a number of occasions that if there are matters that are genuinely English only, that have no impact in Scotland, I think there's a strong case for Scottish MPs not voting on them. The problem is there's a lot of issues characterised as English-only issues that are anything but - matters relating to the English health service for example. Decisions taken on that have a direct impact on Scotland's budget."
Image source, PAHarry Cole, Contributing Editor of The @Spectator
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Mark Hodson:
I am having trouble understanding how a mud slinging story on foreign policy can be running top story and be more relevant to the election, over the UK changing policies around English votes for English laws! While I am an undecided voter, there seems to be biased coverage here...
BBC Radio 5 Live
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, says SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon's plan to back Labour regardless of how many seats it wins at Westminster means it will "ignore the will of the people".
Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 5 Live's Your Call: "She's said overnight regardless of who becomes the largest party, she would make sure she would only back the one she wants to back.
"She's going to ignore the will of the people.
"She's going to ignore how people vote and she's just going to insist on her personal preference."