tweets, external: So @Nigel_Farage, in @DouglasCarswell 's list of conditions for supporting a government, immigration doesn't figure. Is this official?

Daily Mail sketch-writer, Quentin Letts, has accused Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood of "pure Stalinism" in his use of language.

"Stove-piping" and "horizon-scanning" were among phrases used by Sir Jeremy while giving evidence to the Public Administration Committee on Tuesday. Letts tells the Today programme that opaque language could be an attempt to baffle.

tweets, external: Milburn/Hutton/Mand feel like drummer + guitarists trying to get band back together. But minus lead singer Blair. Discuss #UglyRumours #WRM

Labour's Andy Burnham has written to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt querying new guidelines on "major incidents" issued to NHS hospitals by the West Midlands NHS region. He writes: "Procedures for declaring major incidents are long-established in the NHS and it is a highly unusual move for new guidance to be issued in the middle of a difficult winter. This had led some in the NHS to question the motives behind it."

Image source, Reuters

UKIP would overturn the smoking ban as one of its election pledges, the party announced yesterday. The Times is carrying the story today, external saying Nigel Farage's party has promised to "amend the smoking ban to promote choice for ventilated smoking rooms". It has also set out its opposition to plain cigarette packaging.

Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor

Labour's health spokesman Andy Burnham is writing to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in relation to the new guidelines on "major incidents" issued by the West Midlands NHS region. Mr Burnham is asking whether similar guidance has been issued in trusts in other parts of the country.

Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor

The BBC has seen new guidelines that have been issued to some NHS hospitals over when they can call "major incidents." The new guidelines issued by the West Midlands NHS region include 17 additional criteria, prompting accusations that hospitals are being pressurised not to declare "major incidents". It is understood the new guidelines were drawn up after a spate of hospitals earlier this month announced they were declaring "major incidents" because of pressure on bed spaces.

BBC Radio 4

On the Today programme, Chris Ham, of the King's Fund, says there is a growing consensus that health and social care should be integrated. They are currently funded separately - but councils, which are responsible for social care - are warning they are struggling to cover their costs. Merging the two is a key plank of Labour's health pledges ahead of the election. With the NHS facing funding pressures of its own, Prof Ham warns against "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

Image source, Thinkstock

The Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset is facing calls from within his own party to be deselected as a candidate in the general election.

West Somerset Council's Conservatives group have passed a vote of no confidence in Ian Liddell Grainger.

In the voting papers obtained by the BBC he was described as "back-stabbing" and using "unethical manoeuvres".

He is yet to comment but the body in charge of selecting the candidate says it has "every confidence in him".

More should be done to strengthen parliaments in developing countries. The International Development Committee says a strong parliament "will inevitably ensure greater transparency and better use of state revenues including official development assistance".

The committee's new report, external on parliamentary strengthening recommends the Department for International Development puts parliaments at the heart of its governance work.

Image source, BBC Sport

The elections watchdog is warning that a lack of campaigning by mainstream political parties in British Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities makes those areas vulnerable to electoral fraud. The Electoral Commission says there is a political "void" in some communities.

It suggests this void is being filled with "ethnic kinship networks" which could undermine the principle of free choice for voters.

tweets, external: Went to a restaurant and had some Greek yogurt for breakfast. Alas I couldn't find a German to pay for it.

Image source, MOD

The Ministry of Defence will have to sell off more military land and assets to make savings in the coming years, the defence secretary is indicating. Michael Fallon is expected to say in a speech this morning that his department's finances are in better shape than they once were but savings still need to be made.

He will say the emphasis should be on supporting frontline troops by selling off more of the MoD's large estate.

tweets, external: 100 days before 2015 election vs 2010 GE15 #politics pic.twitter.com/r8eH9eCIUa> some big differences for opposition party now!

Image source, Twitter

Image source, PA

What will Ed Miliband choose to go on at Westminster's big event, Prime Minister's Questions, and what will David Cameron have lined to up to respond?

PMQs is at noon, right after Northern Ireland Questions in the Commons. The House of Lords will continue to consider the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill.

Tim Donovan
Political Editor, BBC London

Image source, Reuters

London Mayor Boris Johnson (pictured on the right) has been touring northern towns, posing with a Kalashnikov in Kurdistan, and is to travel to Washington soon.

People cannot help but notice that he is busy and the activity is hardly confined to life behind a desk at City Hall where his writ has a full 17 months to run. So what lies in store for London Mayor Boris Johnson?

tweets:, external BBC Westminster Election Countdown Clock (err...whiteboard) crisis: someone's used a permanent marker again:

Carole Walker
Political correspondent, BBC News

Image source, Department of Health

The government is facing growing opposition from Conservative MPs over its plans to introduce standardised packaging on packets of cigarettes.

Opponents believe as many as 100 Tories could vote against the plans which could become law before the general election.

Ministers say MPs will have a free vote on the issue.

Image source, AFP

A UK government minister has had to apologise for giving a watch to the mayor of Taiwan's capital city, Taipei, without realising such gifts are taboo. Susan Kramer said she did not know giving clocks suggests time is running out for the person who receives it in Chinese culture, and said sorry.

BBC Radio 4

Image source, Getty Images

One of the vice chancellors who has written to the Times has been on the Today programme discussing universities' role in tackling extremism.

On the government's plans to force them to report extremist activity, Professor Anthony Forster, of Essex University, said universities were at their most effective when they were "ensuring academics and students are free to question perceived wisdom within the law".

He says the bill as it stands is not the best way to maximise universities' contribution.