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The Greens’ Rebecca Jones is challenged over the statement on the party’s website that it opposes any kind of restrictions on radical organisations. She says “grooming” is to blame for people joining them. It’s definitely not OK to join Al-Qaeda though, Ms Johnson makes clear. The distinction is between joining a terrorist organisation and “a sympathy with an objective”, she suggests. It’s not in the manifesto, she says. Then she’s asked whether she disowns the policy as stated on the website. “Personally, yes.”

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What about "compulsory deradicalisation", as proposed by the Labour Party’s manifesto? That would involve thousands of people, Vernon Coaker says. “The alternative is to… almost shrug your shoulders.” It doesn’t necessarily involve detention facilities,the shadow defence secretary says, but they would be part of a programme. “We think the government made a mistake in cutting the number of Prevent programmes,” he says. Michael Fallon says they were “refocused” rather than cut. He says he believes his party has pledged to increase funding for the programmes.

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Michael Fallon clashes with Vernon Coaker over control orders, the Labour government-era scheme for limiting the powers of terror suspects. But the two actually agree, or thereabouts, on the measure’s merits - it’s the Liberal Democrats who insisted on the watered-down TPIMs regime. “I readily admit we didn’t get that right,” Sir Nick Harvey says. He suggests “we can do better than either of these things”.

Mr Fallon says permanent exclusion orders are needed. Extremism must be tackled in mosques, too. And military action in the Middle East is part of that, too. Angus Robertson of the SNP broadly agrees, saying “everything needs to be done to try and combat radicalisation in all communities” - but points out the overwhelming majority of Muslims oppose extremism.

Labour’s Keith Vaz - above right - has been accused by his rivals of producing excessive noise on the campaign trial. Conservatives are raising a din with Leicester City Council after videoing a vehicle pumping out messages via loud speaker calling to for people to vote for Mr Vaz.

City hall officials have confirmed it is an offence to use a loudspeaker in the street, and anyone in breach of the rules can face a fine of up to £5,000. A Leicester City Council spokesman said the allegation was now under investigation.

A spokesman for Mr Vaz told the Leicester Mercury the Conservatives were "running scared". "We have received no complaints from any members of the public," he said. The spokesman went on to say Mr Vaz had not been in the vehicle at the time, as he could not be in two places at once.

With tongue firmly in cheek, he added: "The Conservative Party should note: There is only one Keith Vaz."

Michael Fallon rejects the suggestion that the UK’s military commitments at last year’s Nato summit in Wales are getting a bit flaky. “Britain is leading the way in taking up the commitment of the Nato summit to have a rapid reaction force that is worthy of the name,” he insists. Pressed to state how many jets are actually patrolling to protect Britain, he comes up with the answer - eight.

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Michael Fallon says now is “no time to be dropping our guard” when sizing up the extent of the threats Britain faces now. Vernon Coaker, Labour, says the coalition failed to predict developments in eastern Europe, and the big challenge is meeting all the threats. The situation now is “different”, Sir Nick Harvey of the Lib Dems agrees. “We need the capabilities… to counter these problems wherever they arrive,” he says. That means having “flexible, adaptable forces”. The Greens’ Rebecca Johnson highlights “cyber” as one of the big reasons why it’s “bonkers” that Britain is considering renewing Trident. “What we need to do is look at different kinds of defence and security,” the former Greenham Commons protester says. Angus Robertson, of the SNP, says he’s concerned that the larger UK parties have taken their eyes off the ball. He raises worries about the Arctic and "threats from the north" - and laments that this didn’t “rate a mention” in the last defence review.

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Here come the opening statements in the Daily Politics' defence debate:

- Sir Nick Harvey, the Lib Dems’ defence spokesman and a former armed forces minister, says his party is full of “committed liberal interventionists” ready and willing to work with allies. He’s opposed to a like-for-like renewal of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

- Vernon Coaker, shadow defence secretary, says defence and security are a “priority” for the Labour Party. He says it’s essential that the Armed Forces are well-equipped and calls for a “strategic approach to defence” - unlike the one taken in the last five years.

- Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, says “Labour left behind a £38bn black hole in the defence budget” - but now it’s on a “sound footing” and defence spending is the second largest in Nato. “Strong defence depends on a strong economy,” he adds.

- Rebecca Johnson, Green defence spokesperson, says today’s security problems have been driven by an over-reliance on arms sales and previous foreign policy failures. She pledges the Greens will put “human security” at the heart of its international approach. “A vote for the Green Party is a vote for a safer, nuclear-free Britain."

- Angus Robertson, the SNP’s defence spokesperson, says the general election is taking place “in the shadow of massive austerity cuts”. He says the conventional defence budget isn’t protected – so where will the cuts fall? “The time has come for answers.” He reiterates his party’s opposition to Trident renewal.

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The politicians are giving their opening speeches at the moment - we're going to pull them all together into one entry when they're done.

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Time for today’s Daily Politics election debate, which is on defence and security issues. You can follow the debate on BBC2 by switching on the telly or, if you so prefer, using the live coverage tab above.

Image source, European Photopress Agency

Greens’ deputy leader Amelia Womack is out campaigning in Bristol West, where Lord Ashcroft polling puts them in second place behind Labour - but ahead of the incumbent Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams. Ms Womack is outlining how the Greens would protect the independent living fund and double child benefit. Speaking in front of a campaign bus - and why not? - she says:

Image source, PA

The internet’s strange fascination with Ed Balls has been continuing apace today, with #EdBallsDay featuring as the top UK trending top this morning. Four years after the original tweet, we’ve pulled together some of the best parodies doing the rounds. How ever did we cope before 28 April 2011?

Voting for the SNP will pave the way for an “end to austerity”, Scottish Finance Minister John Swinney has said. Speaking in response to today’s GDP figures, he said:

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Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander is questioned about today's wobbly growth figures. He says: