Image source, Reuters

The big political event of Monday night was Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May's attempt to convince voters who would make the best prime minister, live on TV.

Both faced questions from a studio audience and a grilling from Jeremy Paxman.

Mr Corbyn was quizzed about his foreign policy views, past campaigning in Northern Ireland and tax-raising plans. A small business owner attacked Mr Corbyn's "ruthless short-sighted policies" such as increasing corporation tax and putting VAT on private school fees.

Mrs May defended her social care reforms and was repeatedly asked if she had changed her mind on Brexit. A man in the audience describing social care changes in England as a "dementia tax".

And UKIP leader Paul Nuttall faced a separate grilling from Andrew Neil.

He claimed his party had set the agenda on grammar schools and immigration policy as well as Brexit - and predicted it would become bigger than ever if Theresa May "backslides" on the UK's EU departure.

He also did not rule out the detention without trial of suspected terrorists.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

I don't think we learned very much from the TV debate, but the one thing I did draw from it was that any Conservatives hoping that, after that car crash last week around her social care policy, the debate would put Theresa May firmly back on the front foot... well, that didn't really happen.

Indeed, that momentum, that idea of a May landslide, really is now a very distant memory. After seven years in government her record was on trial and she did spend much of the time on the defensive.

And two, it's her style. She shows a remarked disinclination to answer detailed questions - for example on the social care cap, winter fuel allowance, or the immigration target.

The risk for her is she's not seen just as a bloody difficult woman, but also as a bloody evasive woman.

Image source, PA

Good morning and welcome back. Campaigning resumes today after Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May faced a TV grilling on Monday night.

The SNP will launch their general election manifesto later, in an event postponed from last week following the Manchester attack.

The party is to set out a plan to invest an additional £118bn in public services and pledge to provide a "strong voice for Scotland at Westminster against Tory cuts".

But much of the focus will be on what the manifesto has to say about a second independence referendum.

The Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has rounded on Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn after their appearances on TV tonight.

He accused them both of not answering key questions - particularly on Brexit - saying:

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn attempted to convince a live studio audience they should be the next prime minister in a special general election programme.

Mr Corbyn was quizzed about his foreign policy views, past campaigning in Northern Ireland and tax-raising plans.

Mrs May defended her social care reforms and was repeatedly asked if she had changed her mind on Brexit.

The leaders did not appear together, as Mrs May declined to take part in a head-to-head encounter.

Read more.

The Scottish National Party has attacked Theresa May's performance in the leaders' debate, saying she failed to put figures on vital issues such as the income level for winter fuel payments, social care, police numbers, Brexit and immigration.

The SNP’s deputy leader Angus Robertson said:

Ben Wright
BBC political correspondent

It did feel as if the election was being re-booted. Their aims were to land their main campaign messages and avoid skirmishes with the audience. Jeremy Corbyn had the challenge to appear prime ministerial. He was assured, confident, not rattled by questions about his past relationship with Hamas. He said he would like to see immigration come down.

Theresa May had a harder job, with seven years of government to defend. Asked about Brexit, she would not give a number about how much she would pay.

They will both be pleased. It did not do either any harm.

A smile from Mrs May, of relief maybe, as the Paxman grilling comes to an end.

"What I will do is ensure that I am a difficult woman," she says, and ensure the UK gets the right deal on Brexit.