Joe Hawkins, Birkenhead:

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty

The famous 'It was The Sun wot won it' headline followed the 1992 general election, but the ability of newspapers to influence voting intentions could be in decline, particularly with the rise of social media. Two former political editors, the Guardian's Michael White and the Sun's Trevor Kavanagh, discuss whether politicians should fear the papers and how press coverage of this election compares with previous campaigns.

There really were some serious stories today – most notably the GDP figures – but the last 10 hours or so have seen a thoroughly entertaining bunch of semi-serious developments too. Here’s some picks and the things we’ve learned from them, as Alex Stevenson and Victoria King sign off for the day:

• #EdBallsDay is still very much a thing (13.55)
• Peanuts are an effective campaigning prop (11.01)
• The pink bus really is pink (12.22)
• Stanley Johnson (Boris's dad) struggles to keep a straight face when confronted with a cross-dressing politician (13.37)
• Russell Brand embodies the very concept of a joke, in the view of the prime minister (10.46)
• Boris Johnson has made clear plans to curb bagpipes in the capital are “absolute b*******” - while George Osborne has been getting to grips with nuts in Loughborough (8.08 and 13.09).

In a boost for David Cameron and the Conservatives, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has told the BBC he is open to minor changes to the EU’s founding treaties to obtain a fair deal for Britain and Europe.

Major treaty changes on things like freedom of movement aren’t possible, though. Speaking to the BBC’s Europe Editor Katya Adler, Mr Juncker said he’d been perfectly clear on these issues since before his appointment but that unfortunately "the British government and the British press are not listening, and are blind when others are speaking".

That’s a slap on the wrist to the Times, which had reported a source in his office suggesting there would be no treaty negotiations with Britain of any kind before 2019.

Image source, Vinod Popat/Leicester Conservative Party/PA

We mentioned a complaint made against Labour's Keith Vaz for apparently using a loud-hailer on his campaign van. Well it appears this is the vehicle at the centre of the drama.

A voter in Wales says the prime minister should be called “Cam-moron” - a view which gets a light smattering of applause from the audience in Barry. “You’re not a fan then,” Ed Miliband says. He looks faintly amused as the voter reveals he’s torn between backing Labour or Plaid Cymru. And then comes the voter’s verdict on Nick Clegg’s party: “They’re not Liberal Democrats, they’re Liberal Demo-prats.” Mr Miliband says he doesn’t like them much, either.

Daily Politics viewer:

Image source, Reuters

“Take back leadership of this,” a voter called Nick presses Ed Miliband over his stance on immigration. Why doesn’t he say more about what immigrants bring to the economy, to jobs and businesses? “I have no truck with those people who want to leave the European Union,” the Labour leader says. He thinks that message is getting through as he outlines an argument that is about membership of the EU.

On immigration, Nick doesn’t let up, pressing Mr Miliband further. Rather than shutting Nick down, the Labour leader responds with an answer he warns is going to be “very long”. He says: “The point about immigration is it has different effects on different people in different communities. We should recognise people’s concerns are not based on prejudice, they’re based on reality.”

So what should be done about it? He outlines a number of options - the “Farage position” of leaving the EU, the send ‘em back philosophy and the “sensible position” of Labour’s “changed approach”. It’s not good enough for Nick, though, who is still dissatisfied. Mr Miliband moves on to answer some other questions.

Matt Hedley, Abbots Langley: Given how we are having more and more coalitions, isn't the party system becoming archaic and a problem for its members, for instance the Lib Dems reputation due to the coalition affecting it's prospective MPs chances in this upcoming election.

Is it not fair to say that if MP's voted for what their constituents wanted instead of a party line, we'd be closer to a true democracy, instead of this farcical mishmash of policies, a government instead of a party.

This is the first election where I look at all of the major parties and find nothing I like, they are all terrible choices.

Image source, PA

Nick Clegg received a fair slice of ridicule when he declared his ambition to be prime minister before the 2010 election. It was a “pity” that he didn’t get the job, his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez says while out campaigning in Scotland. He would have done “even better things” than he did as deputy prime minister. "If you look at the record they have, shared parental leave, more apprenticeships, stabilising the economy, the amount of things they have done with 56 MPs,” she says. “Imagine if they had more." Mrs Clegg, as she doesn’t like to be called, is clearly on-message, backing her husband’s determination not to work in a government with either the SNP or UKIP. Those who don’t want a government “constantly blackmailed” by the fringe parties “just have to vote Lib Dem”, she thinks.

Paul Barrett-Brown, Powys:

Earlier today David Cameron said Ed Miliband’s decision to go and see Russell Brand - for an interview for the film star and comedian’s YouTube channel - was a “joke”. Here’s the Labour leader’s response: "I tell you what I think is a joke. I think a joke is saying that you want this election to be about leadership and then refusing to debate me.” So why did he agree to the interview, then? Mr Miliband adds:

A selection of your comments:

C. Holland: As Michael Fallon refused to confirm that the Tories would support a Labour Gov't over Trident,could we please have some newspaper headlines about the dangers of the Tories playing politics with our safety.

Steve, London: There are a frightening number of politicians who clearly don't understand the concept of our 'nuclear deterrent'. It is not there to prevent all wars, just a nuclear war. I don't think there has been a nuclear war since we have had Polaris/Trident so it looks like it does work after all. Furthermore, no sane man *wants* nuclear weapons but also no sane man denies that we *need* them in this highly unpredictable world.

Peter Banks: Why aren't UKIP represented? They have a very strong policy on defence and particularly looking after veterans.

Image source, Getty

George Osborne has been out and about campaigning in South Thanet, where Nigel Farage is standing for UKIP. Mr Osborne said voters have a “clear choice”. On the one hand, backing the Tories can put David Cameron in Downing Street and help a “strong local candidate into parliament. On the other, there's a candidate “who stands from the side-lines and won’t even be here” - that’s Mr Farage he’s referring to, of course - “and potentially Ed Miliband and the SNP in Downing Street”. The chancellor adds: