BBC Radio 4 Today

When politicians are asked about the price of milk, the first instinct of some of them might be to think of it as a test to see if they’re really connected to ordinary, everyday life. But it’s just possible the person asking the question might actually care about farming. In Monmouth, farmers are struggling to make milk production pay. And they don’t really feel like their elected representatives care enough. "The trouble with all politicians is they've never had a bill they couldn't pay and yet we're producing something that everybody needs, you cannot live without food," one says. "They don't come out to the country to see what's happening, we're nothing for the government really," another adds. You can listen to their concerns in full - and the implications for the political contest in Monmouth - here.

The rather opulent surroundings of the National Liberal Club awaiting the arrival of the Lib Dem leader.

The Conservatives don’t seem particularly bovvered by Ed Miliband’s challenge on immigration. They insist they have their own plan which they’re sticking to, and view today’s speech from the Labour leader on the issue as a “desperate attempt” to “distract” people from questions about the SNP. A spokesperson says:

Image source, Getty Images

Conservative efforts to play up their achievements on apprenticeships are being challenged by Labour, which claims that the number of young people starting apprenticeships has fallen in the last year. And during their time in office the proportion of apprenticeship starts is down by nearly a quarter. Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna says:

BBC Radio 4 Today

One extra layer of insight we do have in this election comes from Lord Ashcroft, who is “spending a fortune” on his polling. He’s getting a “very serious sample” in each constituency, the BBC's head of political research David Cowling tells the Today programme - and he suggests that they and other polling does suggest that tactical voting in Scotland is a thing. “The Ashcroft polling shows in a number of Liberal Democrat seats the MP hangs on when the question is asking ‘how would you vote in this constituency?’” Mr Cowling says. Similarly, a recent YouGov poll put the SNP advantage at 24% - but when asked to make a straight choice between Labour and the SNP, the nationalist lead slipped to just 12%. “If it’s anywhere half near correct it makes for a much more interesting mix,” he adds.

BBC Radio 4 Today

If you’re confused by the likely result of the election, and aren't completely certain who’s going to win, don’t worry - you’re not alone. David Cowling, the head of political research at the BBC, is asked what’s going on while being interviewed on Today. “I’m asking the same question,” he admits. “I’d love to give you an answer.” If he can't, who can? Maybe our poll tracker will clear everything up.

Politics stories are all over the this morning's front pages - which is just as you'd expect with the election imminent. They're worth inspecting - but why trudge down to your local newsagents when you could just click this link ?

Image source, Getty Images

Ed Miliband is in the Vale of Glamorgan later to challenge the Conservatives over immigration. There’s nothing new in the 10-point plan he's discussing today, but Mr Miliband will suggest getting started in the first 100 days gives his party the advantage on the issue. Labour’s proposals include:

- Recruiting an extra 1,000 borders staff

- Introducing full exit checks

- Keeping the cap on workers from outside the EU in place

- Requiring that people working in public services in public-facing roles speak English.

Speaking later, Mr Miliband will say:

There’ll be a big moment in the campaign later this morning when the latest - and final - GDP figures of this parliament are released at 09:30 BST. The statistics for the first three months of this year aren’t expected to be trumpeted by the governing parties, though; as the Observer reported at the weekend, economists are predicting growth has slowed to 0.5% from the 0.6% seen in the last quarter of 2014. “A disappointing reading could cause a headache for the incumbent parties, particularly given their desire to emphasise their economic credentials,” Andrew Goodwin, of Oxford Economics, says. He's probably right, you know. Our economy tracker gives you the full picture of the state of play.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

There’s nothing in the latest Survation/Daily Record poll, external which suggests the prospect of an SNP landslide in Scotland isn’t going to happen. Its Westminster voting intention for April has put the nationalists up a further four points on its March poll to an eye-watering 51%, with Labour slipping one point to 26%. The Conservatives also drop a point to 14%, the Lib Dems advance a point to 5% while others - apparently being squeezed - slip 4%. It follows yesterday’s TNS poll that put the SNP on 54%.

Image source, AP

Today the Conservative Party is in spending mode, promising to use the £200m fine from Deutsche Bank’s rate-fixing scandal to pay for 50,000 apprenticeships. This is actually a top-up to the Tories’ pledge for three million apprenticeships over the next five years but serves to highlight the party’s commitment to helping “train young people and get them off the dole and into work”. Attention will be on David Cameron as he announces the news, in particular, because he's promising to fight with every ounce of energy in the final phase of this campaign - as he strives to make the breakthrough which has eluded him so far.Here's our storyon the day’s political developments.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

For many years the general election was something to be thought of as in the dim and distant future. Since the start of 2014 it was something to be acceptably spoken of as "looming". And now, after starting the final campaign countdown earlier this year, we find ourselves with just nine days to go until polling day. It’s been a long build up - but the wait for 7 May 2015 is nearly over.

We're down to single figures - nine days to go until polling day. It's Victoria King and Alex Stevenson here this morning, your Politics Live team. We're feeling pumped, to quote the prime minister, so stick with us and you won't miss a thing.