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Opinion polls certainly suggest the SNP will do extremely well and it appears their lead has actually strengthened during the campaign period, says Nicola McEwen, professor of politics at the University of Edinburgh. The latest poll suggests they could win "the overwhelming majority" of seats.

Prof McEwen says Nicola Sturgeon has been careful in her handling of the issue of independence - there's a very strong correlation between those who voted yes and those who'll vote SNP. That might seem obvious but it hasn't always been the case. Nevertheless, says the professor, Ms Sturgeon has been careful not to rule a further referendum out while saying this is an election about much more - in particular, ending austerity.

Prof McEwen says "it will be extremely difficult for Labour to pick itself up" if these polls are accurate - the party could be down to a number of seats in the single figures for the first time since the 1930s.

This letter is the result of a petition the Tories launched on their own website. It was promoted by Karren Brady, businesswoman and Conservative peer.

The signatories are small companies employing between three and 300 people There are about five million such businesses in the UK so perhaps that should give some perspective on this letter and how many people have signed it.

Nevertheless, the letter does attack Labour and says a change in government now would be far too risky for the economy.

Labour has dismissed the letter, saying the Conservatives had spent "five years letting down Britain's small businesses" and had overseen an increase in business rates of around £1,500.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: "Government scheme after government scheme designed to boost finance for small firms has failed, and small business lending has fallen by £500m in the last three months. With Labour, the tax burden on small firms will be lower than under the Tories."

Mr Umunna also said his party would address late payments and "unfair treatment of small suppliers" and set up a British Investment Bank to back small businesses.

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For their part, the Conservatives want us all to pay attention this morning to the fact that 5,000 small businesses have signed a letter backing their approach to the economy. Printed in the Daily Telegraph,, external it says the Tories should be "given the chance to finish what they started". Its publication coincides with the launch of the Conservatives' small business manifesto, which aims to see 600,000 new firms created each year by 2020.

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It'll come as no great surprise to learn that the Conservatives are unimpressed with Labour's idea on stamp duty.

“This panicky, unfunded announcement is something Labour have tried before - and it failed. In contrast to Ed Miliband’s gimmicks, because of our balanced economic plan, we've been able to deliver lasting reforms - cutting stamp duty for 98% of people who would have paid it.

“Higher borrowing and higher debt under an SNP-controlled Ed Miliband government would mean higher mortgage rates and fewer first time buyers.”

Top of Labour's agenda this morning - and indeed, we're told, this week - is housing. The party is hoping to woo would-be first-time buyers by offering to waive stamp duty on properties worth up to £300,000. Ed Miliband will also pledge to begin work on one million new homes by 2020.

Welcome to another day with the Politics Live team. Only 10 days to go now until the general election. Stick with us - Victoria King and Pippa Simm - and we'll take you through everything happening on the campaign trail.