That's all from the Politics Live team for tonight, at the end of a day which saw education policy at the heart of political debate. The Conservatives announced plans to turn more schools into academies and to "protect" schools spending in "flat cash" terms, although not against inflation. Labour and the Liberal Democrats said the plans represented a "real-terms cut" and that other areas of education spending would be squeezed.
We'll be back at 06:00, with the latest news and comment, including from the Today programme and BBC Breakfast. In the Commons, MPs will debate controversial proposals to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people.
tweets: Tuesday's FT: "Greek finance minister unveils bid to end stand-off with creditors" (via @suttonnick) #bbcpapers
Financial TimesCopyright: Financial Times
Female voters
BBC Radio 4
Re-capping - more than a third of women are yet to decide who to vote for at the UK general election, a TNS poll for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour suggested.
Of those surveyed, 35% said they did not know who to cast their ballot for - compared with 25% of men. The poll also found the NHS, living costs and the cost of caring for family were of greatest concern for women. Read the full story here.
tweets: Tuesday's Metro front page: "Rail users 'are being treated like criminals'" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday
MetroCopyright: Metro
Business row
In tomorrow's Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, a number of businessmen including former Marks & Spencer chairman Lord Rose - who is a Conservative peer - criticise the Labour leader and say he is trying to shut down debate. David Miliband had hit back at the Boots boss Stefano Pessina who had criticised Labour. On Twitter, the Labour media team said: "Ridiculous Mail splash tonight. They have revealed a Tory peer is attacking Labour. Shock."
tweets: Tuesday's Telegraph: "Business chiefs hit back at Miliband" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers
Daily TelegraphCopyright: Daily Telegraph
Education spending
BBC Newsnight
BBC Two, 22:30
The Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has criticised Conservative plans to protect education spending for five- to 16-year-olds. He told Newsnight "The Tory commitment is in cash terms, not in real terms, and there is another worry which are the 16-19 year olds. The FE (Further Education) colleges are under financial pressure like the other institutions and this would hit them very badly as they wouldn't be protected."
Stubbing out
Smokers in Bristol are being asked not to light up in two of the city's public squares, in what's believed to be the first scheme of its kind in the UK. The ban isn't in law and can't be enforced, but organisers hope that people will refrain from smoking if they're asked politely.
Education secretary
Conservative Home
At ConservativeHome, Mark Wallace looks at "the many plates that Nicky Morgan must spin". He says the education secretary is beset with problems almost wholly inherited: "With a tough ministerial gig from the outset, a sometimes rebellious department, intervention from above and an election to fight, it's remarkable she's doing as well as she is."
tweets: Tuesday's International NY Times: "On Ukraine front, rebels are upbeat" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday
New York TimesCopyright: New York Times
Bird flu
MP for Meon Valley George Hollingbery said the outbreak of bird flu was detected in the Hampshire village of Upham. He'd been told that any danger to the public was very low and the strain was a "mild one".
Tuition fees
The Guardian
The Guardian reports that Ed Miliband is delaying outlining Labour's tuition fee policy. He wants to cut fees in England to £6,000 a year, but the paper's political editor, Patrick Wintour, says he has "yet to find a way to fund the cut that satisfies the shadow chancellor Ed Balls".
A cross-party group of peers has dropped a second attempt to add the so-called "snoopers' charter" to the government's counter-terrorism bill. Lords King, Blair, Carlile and West wanted measures on communications data, rejected by the Lib Dems in 2012, to be included in the bill, saying they were vital tools for combating terrorism. But this evening they withdrew their amendment and it did not go to a vote.
Bird flu
The chief vet Nigel Gibbens says a "low severity" case of bird flu has been confirmed in chickens at a farm in Hampshire. "We are taking action to ensure that the disease does not spread or develop into a more severe form; we are investigating the possible sources of the outbreak," he said.
NUT on schools
Asked about Conservative plans to convert more schools to academies (semi-independent state-funded schools), Kevin Courtney, from the National Union of Teachers, said they were a "distraction" from the problems in England's schools. More and more teachers were leaving the profession he said, and "in just the last month, we've been told by councils that they're reaching a crisis point on places for children in schools".
Prison incident
Andy Martin
BBC Ireland correspondent
More than 40 prisoners have been involved in an incident at Northern Ireland's high security jail, reports the BBC's Ireland correspondent Andy Martin. It's understood prison officers left a wing which houses dissident republicans, after some inmates verbally threatened them over increased security measures. The prisoners are secure, but are not currently in the cells and nobody has been injured.
Post update
BBC Newsnight
BBC Two, 22:30
Tonight on @BBCNewsnight: Evan Davis interviews Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, about university tuition fees; investment in education, the Labour Party's campaign, and more. Tune in to Newsnight at 22:30 on BBC Two to see, or catch up afterwards on BBC iPlayer.
GoV.UKCopyright: GoV.UK
Labour fortunes
The Spectator
Associated PressCopyright: Associated Press
At The Spectator, Sebastian Payne says although Labour are tied with the Conservatives in Lord Ashcroft's latest poll and roughly half of respondents think the policies of the last few years have been the wrong ones, Ed Miliband's party "is still not trusted to run the country". Why? "The top reason is that voters fear Labour might spend and borrow more than the country can afford, closely followed by the perception they haven't made clear what it would do to improve things."
Half of young adults in the UK do not know what Magna Carta is, a survey for ITV News suggests. While seven out of 10 people as a whole correctly indentified it as part of Britain's constitution, among 18- to 34-year-olds, this figure dropped to five out of 10.
The four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, one of the most important legal documents in history, have recently been brought together to mark its 800th anniversary.
EPACopyright: EPA
Lord Ashcroft poll
The Tories and Labour are still running neck and neck, according to the latest poll by the Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft, although both were down a point on last week at 31%. The Liberal Democrats are up two percentage points to 8%, but still trail Ukip, who are on 15% and the Greens, with 9%. The SNP were up a point at 4% in the telephone poll, which involved 1,002 adults between 30 January and 1 February.
Consultant's campaign
Kate GrangerCopyright: Kate Granger
A hospital consultant who is terminally-ill has been backed by more than 90 NHS organisations in her campaign to get NHS staff to .
Education debate
Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, speaking to Channel 4 News, described David Cameron's announcements today as "very familiar old-school Tory policy", and said the government had found "tax cuts for millionaires, but not investment to support teachers, schools, early years, sixth form colleges".
Schools minister Nick Gibb, a Conservative MP, said not guaranteeing spending rises with inflation in the next parliament was difficult, but "a competent government has to take difficult decisions to ensure our public finances are on a sure footing".
Patrick Wintour, political editor of The Guardian
@patrickwintour
tweets: For once Vince Cable gets on front foot over tuition fees with five questions Labour needs to answer | Vince Cable http://gu.com/p/45e58/stw
Education debate
BBCCopyright: BBC
David Cameron says a future Conservative government would protect England's schools budget in cash terms, but per pupil funding would not keep pace with inflation. The prime minister said the government would provide a further £7bn for extra places for rising numbers of pupils. But Labour said Tory claims to protect funding were "unravelling" and represented a "real-terms cut".
Watch BBC News chief political correspondent Vicki Young give her analysis of the debate here.
Danny Shaw, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent
@DannyShawBBC
tweets: There were 38 murders & 106 rapes committed in 2013 by offenders on bail in Eng/Wales - FOI from @MoJGovUK Ministry of Justice.
Labour membership figures
The Labour Party has released figures which it says show party membership is at its highest since 2005. The party said it had 194,269 members, up from the 189,531 it reported at the end of 2013. Labour says this makes it "the biggest political party in the country going into the general election". The Conservatives recently said they had 224,000 paying members - up 30% in a year - although this includes their £1-a-year "supporters".
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
May2015, election website
@May2015NS
tweets: As Jan becomes Feb, polls are unchanged… LAB & CON exchanging leads (LAB in front more often). http://may2015.com/
The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale takes a look at divisions within the Conservative Party on the question of so-called English votes for English laws: "The debate is getting more complicated and it could be about to get more bloody."
Female voters
The Guardian
Responding to an earlier TNS poll for Radio 4 Woman's Hour, which revealed that more than one third of women are yet to decide who they will vote for on 7 May, Suzanne Moore in the Guardian says "for five years women have been in the frontline of cuts". She cautions: "The cost of ignoring women is huge for any political party. The actual cost of austerity has been paid for by women and children, often to devastating effect. Austerity, as it has been practiced, has been gendered."
tweets: Deutsche Bank on General Election - "A Labour-SNP coalition [is] the most likely outcome. But 3 months is a long time in politics."
'Relatively generous'
Vicki Young
Political correspondent, BBC News
BBC political correspondent Vicki Young says the schools settlement is "relatively generous" compared with other departments and raises questions over what will happen to other "un-protected departments". The Prime Minister has acknowledged head teachers will face difficult decisions despite the pledge to protect spending per pupil in "cash" terms.
Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent
@iainjwatson
tweets: What are Labour's options on student finance? Ed Miliband has said 'watch this space' - we try to fill in some of the blanks #r4 at 6
Most-connected Tweeters
Is your Twitter looking a bit empty as the election campaign hots up? The magazine GQ has compiled a list of the most-connected men on Twitter, with politicians and political commentators strongly represented in the top 20. Paul Waugh of PoliticsHome.com tops the list - ahead of the main party leaders.
Matt Chorley, Mail Online political editor
@MattChorley
tweets: UKIP-ocrites! Anti-immigration party mocked for sending out propaganda leaflets delivered by a BULGARIAN http://dailym.ai/1BPouM1
Schools spending
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, spending on schools in England increased from £39.7bn in 2010-11 to £41.6bn in 2014-15 - a real-terms increase of 4.7% or just over 1% per year on average. But because the number of pupils in state schools increased by 3.9% over the same period, the IFS calculated that spending per pupil had risen by only around 1% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15.
Voting by religion?
@LSEpoliticsblog
tweets: Religion is an important predictor of party choice in UK general elections http://buff.ly/16bxIdA
'Proper' jobs?
The Daily Telegraph
Associated PressCopyright: Associated Press
Ed Miliband has been the butt of some jokes today after claiming that his work experience outside politics was working as an economic adviser in the Treasury and as a teacher of government and economics at Harvard. At the Telegraph, James Kirkup looks at the numbers behind the rise of the "professional politician", and asks a question: "The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems are all currently led by men whose careers have been spent in and around politics. Could the next leadership contests they see a backlash against the career politicos?"
94 days of polls?
Over at the New Statesman's May2015.com, Chris Hanretty of Election Forecast explains that as the general election gets closer, polls become increasingly accurate at predicting the result. The sharpest increase in accuracy comes 50 days before the polls open - so take polls until 18 March with more than a pinch of salt...
Schools spending
BBCCopyright: BBC
Lib Dem education minister David Laws attacks the Conservative announcements on schools spending, saying schools are going to get "a rough ride" if the Tories retain power. The Conservatives say they will protect schools spending - per pupil - in cash terms and spend £7bn on places for rising numbers of pupils. But Mr Laws says that means spending on education for "early years" and 16- to 19-year-olds will face "massive cuts".
Labour under attack
Conservative Home
At ConservativeHome, Henry Hill says "today's editions of the five traditionally Conservative-inclined national papers" all have significant attacks on Labour, whether on the front page or inside. Describing it as "a very satisfying morning's reading in Tory HQ", Mr Hill says: "The advent of fixed-term Parliaments has seen the dramatic extension of the long campaign for the 2015 general election. If the Tory press maintain this level of aggression Labour is in for a punishing few months."
Education
Press AssociationCopyright: Press Association
At the blog Left Foot Forward, Ruby Stockham outlines five areas of education policy she claims the Conservatives have made worse.
James Chapman, Daily Mail political editor
@jameschappers
tweets: .@LordAshcroft latest: Con 31%, Lab 31%, Lib Dem 8%, UKIP 15%, Green 9% #GE2015
Police complaints
The number of recorded complaints against the police in England and Wales rose by 15 per cent last year. The Police Complaints Commission said almost 35,000 complaints were made in the year 2013 to 2014. A third were recorded by people accusing officers of neglect or a failure of duty.
Young voters drive
BBCCopyright: BBC
Michael Sani, of the Bite the Ballot group, is in Radio 1's Live Lounge, saying political education in schools should be improved to help engage more young people in politics. In 2010, only 44% of those aged 18 to 24 who were registered to vote in the general election voted, while among the over 65s, the proportion was 79%.
John Rentoul, columnist for the Independent on Sunday
@JohnRentoul
tweets: Nigel Farage not on Sky #AskTheLeaders because he's in Strasbourg, says @faisalislam
If I were prime minister...
The Independent
In the run-up to the general election, The Independent has been inviting one contributor daily to describe what they would do if they were prime minister. Today it's the turn of Jonathan Isaby, the chief executive of the TaxPayer's Alliance.
Counter-terrorism bill
Over in the House of Lords, peers are embarking on the first of two days' report-stage scrutiny of the government's Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, which will give new powers to UK security services. A cross-party group of peers is set to re-launch a bid to revive the "snoopers' charter" in the legislation. The debate is expected a little later this afternoon.
'Horrible' PMQs
David Cameron is taken to task by the young audience at the #AsktheLeaders event over Prime Minister's Questions. One person tells him it is "horrible and petty", with MPs shouting at one another. The Prime Minister talks about the intense noise in the Commons and says at times, MPs have to shout to make themselves heard.
Cameron's 'most unpopular move'
Prime Minister David Cameron tells the #AskTheLeaders event that the government's policy on badger culling was "probably the most unpopular for which I'm responsible", but sometimes in politics, you had to do things you knew were unpopular. The cull was needed, he said, to prevent TB spreading among cattle.
Saudi flag
At Sky News's Ask the Leaders event, David Cameron tells the audience that lowering the Union flag on government buildings to half-mast upon the death of the Saudi king was a mark of "respect", to acknowledge the long relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabia. Challenged about that relationship, Mr Cameron said that information from Saudi authorities on terrorism-related matters had helped save British lives.
Funding questioned
Earlier on the World at One the Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson, said David Cameron's school funding pledge meant the amount spent per pupil will go down in real terms. If you missed it, listen here to the full interview.
Labour manifesto
New Statesman
The New Statesman's political editor George Eaton reveals the key figures involved in drafting Labour's election manifesto, and says one issue as yet unresolved is when the party's wider "stakeholders " - such as trade unions - will get their regular chance to contribute.
#AskTheLeader
SkyCopyright: Sky
David Cameron is making an appearance at #AskTheLeader and he's giving career advice. He'd advise his children to think about doing an apprenticeship or going to university rather than leaving school at 18, he says. "You're more likely to have a successful career and a well-paid job if you do one of the two."
Brown speech
Gordon Brown says he wants Scotland to take charge of welfare and to reform the housing sector. Scottish Labour has been setting out proposals which go beyond those suggested by the Smith Commission, which was set up after the "vow" was signed by the main Westminster parties two days before the Scottish independence referendum.
tweets: Gordon Brown and @jimmurphymp call for Scot Parliament to have power to top up UK benefits
Gordon Brown on 'the vow'
BBCCopyright: BBC
Ex-PM Gordon Brown is giving a speech in Edinburgh outlining further devolution commitments - it's time to "build on the vow", he says. He says he is announcing proposals for new powers for the Scottish parliament to "better cater" for poor people.
Young voters
At the Metro, Alex Stevenson has a list of suggested questions for 18-24 year olds to ask those who want their vote.
Kevin Maguire
Daily Mirror associate editor
tweets: "We were more or less where Greece was..." Lie or ignorance from Clegg to justify what he did in 2010 #AskTheLeaders
Clegg on coalition
Asked whether or not he would go into coalition again with a Conservative Party led by David Cameron, Nick Clegg says: "It's exactly like last time, it's not my choice or his choice or Ed Miliband's choice, it really is your choice." He calls himself "a pragmatic person", and says this means he has to "respond to the instructions given by the British people".
David Cameron
tweets: I'm looking forward to appearing on the Stand Up Be Counted debate on @SkyNews shortly. @SkySUBC
Leaders' debates row
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
UK broadcasters have proposed two live election debates featuring seven UK political partiesImage caption: UK broadcasters have proposed two live election debates featuring seven UK political parties
After the TV leader debates were extended to seven parties, the BBC has been defending its decision to leave out those from Northern Ireland. The fourth largest Westminster party, the DUP, complained about its omission. The Corporation says impartiality was crucial and the BBC could not include "just one" party from Northern Ireland.
Clegg on tuition fees
National Union of StudentsCopyright: National Union of Students
Asked about his party's decision to raise tuition fees for university as part of coalition policy, Nick Clegg defends himself by saying that "more youngsters are now going to university than ever before, more youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds are going to university than ever before, more youngsters from black and ethnic minority backgrounds are going to university than ever before".
Clegg on #AskTheLeader
SkyCopyright: Sky
Lib Dem leader - and deputy prime minister - Nick Clegg is at Facebook HQ for #AskTheLeader Q&A. First up, and it's the NHS. "If you want to make sure that we keep people as healthy as possible... the most important thing to do is empower GPs, empower clinicians to put money where it will keep people healthy." Then on Trident he says: "Of course we should be climbing down that ladder".
Exceeding expectations
The Spectator
Over at The Spectator, Isabel Hardman says Ed Miliband's appearance before young voters today at a 'Stand Up and Be Counted' event was impressive, and shows why David Cameron doesn't want to engage in TV debates: "Miliband looking weird has become a cultural meme, which means that when he does appear in a debate, he will surprise voters by coming across far better than they'd expected."
Patrick Wintour
Political editor of The Guardian
tweets: "Facebook pays no UK corporation tax for 2nd year" but hosts Sky Leaders debates. standupbecounted and reach zero. http://gu.com/p/42k9j/stw
'Flat cash' for schools
Leading education specialists have suggested that David Cameron's announcement on funding for schools in England will amount to a cut in real terms. The Director of Policy at Teach First, Sam Freedman, has tweeted that so called "flat cash per pupil," combined with national insurance and pension changes for teachers, could mean cuts of between 7 and 10%.
Here is Mr Cameron's reply when quizzed about "flat cash" during a question and answer session at a school in North London earlier: "What does flat cash mean? What it means is that the cash sum that follows your child into the school will not be cut. Because the number of children going to school is going up, this has an implication that means in cash terms the school's budget is going to be rising. I accept that is a difficult decision for some schools, because the amount of cash per child is not going up by inflation, the amount of cash is staying the same. "
'Focus on teaching'
Responding to the prime minister's announcement that more schools will become academies under a future Conservative government, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt tells The World at One that Labour intends to focus instead "on the quality of teaching and strength of leadership".
Education funding
Conservative MP Graham Stuart welcomes the ring-fencing of the education budget. To put it in context, he tells Radio 4's World at One, "we are still spending £100bn more a year than we have coming in", adding, "we are spending more just paying interest than is spent on the whole school budget".
Osborne meets Greek FM
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
More from George Osborne after the meeting with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis at 11 Downing Street:
"The stand-off between Greece and the eurozone is fast becoming the biggest risk to the global economy and [it is a] risk and threat to our economy at home. In Europe as in Britain, now is the time to choose competence over chaos. I urge the Greek finance minister to act responsibly, but it's also important that the eurozone has a better plan for jobs and growth. We had that plan in Britain and in these uncertain times, now is not the time to abandon that plan."
Post update
Jo Coburn
Daily Politics presenter
tweets: It got lively when I spoke to @Digbylj and @lucianaberger about the Boots boss' criticism of Labour
tweets: If you think @SkySUBC event is good I suspect @BBCNewsbeat q&a with leaders in #Ge2015 will be much more lively. Based on past experience.
Cameron on schools
Delivering his speech on education a little earlier, David Cameron said Conservative plans to protect funding per pupil in England would provide a further £7bn for places for rising numbers of pupils.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Osborne meets new Greek finance minister
AFPCopyright: AFP
The Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis settled in earlier in Number 11, where he had talks with George Osborne. They were "constructive", the chancellor reports.
Tuition fees 'chaos'
Responding to a question on Labour's plans to cut tuition fees, David Cameron criticises the party's "total failure" to explain how it would make up the "massive shortfall" in universities' funding - and said the plans would lead to "chaos". Labour is yet to unveil its policy but Ed Miliband has said he wants to reduce the cap from £9,000 to £6,000, which universities have branded "implausible".
Cameron speech
Following Nicky Morgan's lead, David Cameron declines to answer a maths question, saying he only does his times tables in the car with his children, which draws some laughs. Responding to a question on why he is convinced that academies are the answer, he says the evidence shows they work. We need impatience and intolerance of failure, he adds.
Cameron speech
David Cameron fields a couple of questions - including one by the BBC's Nick Robinson - about his pledge to ring-fence the schools budget - namely whether the commitment will lead to deeper cuts elsewhere. Mr Cameron says it is absolutely right to set out the Conservatives' priorities for education, and adds that the party has demonstrated it is prepared to take "difficult decisions", such as on welfare.
UKIP 'consider legal action against school'
UKIP are considering legal action against a school that it claims linked the party with the Holocaust during an assembly. Chellaston Academy in Derby showed a slide featuring a picture of Nigel Farage and a comment he made about Romanians. UKIP's East Midlands chairman Alan Graves has accused the school of "political indoctrination". The school said it was seeking legal advice before commenting. Read more.
Cameron speech
David Cameron concludes by saying the government is getting closer to its goal of ensuring every child in Britain has the best start in life - and thanks pupils, parents and teachers for their role in helping to bring this about. Time now for a Q&A session.
Cameron speech
BBCCopyright: BBC
The final commitment from David Cameron is for a guaranteed place on the National Citizenship Service for every teenager that wants it, because education alone "is not enough".
Cameron education speech
The prime minister says he wants 17,500 more maths and physics teachers to be trained over the next five years, to ensure we are the best country in the world at maths, science and computing. He also reiterates the Conservatives' pledge to create three million apprenticeships by 2020, paid for by reducing the benefit cap to £23,000 - which receives a clap from the audience. Together with there being no cap on university places, this should abolish youth unemployment in the country, he says.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron confirms that every failing and "coasting" school in England will be turned into an academy under a Tory government. Any school that cannot demonstrate it has the capacity to improve will have to become a sponsored academy, he says.
Cameron education speech
A future Conservative government would provide a "good primary school place for every child with zero tolerance for failure" if they win power in May, David Cameron pledges.
BreakingBreaking News
David Cameron commits his party to protecting funding per pupil at state schools in England over the course of the next Parliament.
Milband Q&A
SkyCopyright: Sky
That's the end of the televised section of the Q&A, although the Labour leader will continue to answer questions on Facebook, host Faisal Islam - who is Sky's political editor - says.
Miliband Q&A
Ed Miliband cannot guarantee to restore the education maintenance allowance if he leads the next government, he says. The EMA, which encouraged young people on low incomes to stay in full-time education, was scrapped in 2012. Mr Miliband says he won't make "false promises" without knowing how they will be paid for.
Cameron education speech
BBCCopyright: BBC
David Cameron says under Labour far too many children left schools without the necessary skills and qualifications - but this has changed under the coalition. He makes no apology for the rapid pace of change, he adds.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron is on his feet, and underlines the importance of every child having the best possible start in life. He says this begins with a strong family but centres on a proper education. A good education, he says, should not be a luxury or only for those who can afford it - but something that everyone can benefit from. "If we don't educate the next generation properly, we won't secure Britain's future," he adds.
Miliband Q&A
Asked how Labour will engage with Muslim communities in the UK, Mr Miliband says Muslims have a responsibility to challenge and prevent radicalisation before it happens and praises their response to last month's attacks in Paris. The Labour leader says he has changed his party's foreign policy, with regard to Iraq, and says people should speak up against Islamaphobia and anti-semitism wherever it manifests itself.
Nicky Morgan speech
Conservative Education Secretary Nicky Morgan provides some opening remarks ahead of David Cameron's speech, which is being delivered at a school in Enfield, north London. Mrs Morgan recalls her delight at being appointed to the Cabinet position, stressing her determination to ensure every child has the chance to master the basics and succeed in life. She goes on to praise the government's education reforms, which she says have created an "ambitious culture" in England's education system.
Miliband Q&A
Labour will produce a young person's manifesto at the election, Mr Miliband indicates, saying it is "incredibly important" to hear the voices of young people and place more trust in them.
McClusky attacks Ed critics
BBCCopyright: BBC
Len McCluskey, general secretary of the UK's largest union, Unite, has condemned "Blairite retreads" within the party who he accused of "undermining" the leadership of Ed Miliband. He told a meeting in Birmingham of 1,000 Unite officers he had asked the union's executive to donate £2.5m to Labour as a "duty to democracy".
Miliband Q&A
Asked about his experience outside politics and what influence it had on his leadership, Mr Miliband says he was "an economic adviser in the Treasury" and was a lecturer at Harvard University "listening and engaging" with people. He says he is in politics because "it makes a difference to our country".
Miliband attacks Boots chief
The Labour leader suggests people like Monaco-based Mr Pessina - who claimed a Labour government would be a catastrophe for business - were in an "unholy alliance" with the Conservatives in arguing that "things cannot change". He adds that "people at the top" cannot get away with not paying their tax in full.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron is making a speech on education, in which he is setting out his party's plans to reform struggling schools in England if it wins the general election. Mr Cameron is expected to announce that almost 3,500 schools rated as "requiring improvement" could be forced into new leadership to improve standards.
PACopyright: PA
Miliband attacks Boots chief
Asked a question about tax, Mr Miliband turn his fire on Boots boss Stefano Pessina amid a row over the weekend over Labour's economic policy. The Labour leader accuses Mr Pessina of "lecturing people on how to vote" when he does not pay tax in the UK. Mr Miliband vows to take on "powerful forces" who are "avoiding tax". Read more on this issue here.
Undecided voters
BBC Radio 4
A poll for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour has suggested 35% of women are undecided over who to vote for at the general election - compared with 25% of men. The research by TNS also found that the NHS, living costs and the cost of caring for family were the three issues of greatest concern for women. Perhaps worryingly for the parties, the majority of adults polled did not think any party leader understands what life is like for them or their families.
Miliband Q&A
A group of 18-24 year olds is putting questions to Ed Miliband, having previously quizzed Green Party leader Natalie Bennett. The subjects being raised include the freedom of the internet and graduate employment. The Labour leader suggests there could be limits on unpaid internships.
Miliband Q&A
Ed Miliband is now answering questions at an "Ask the Leaders" event organised by Facebook and broadcast by Sky News. David Cameron and Nick Clegg will also appear at the event, part of the "Stand Up and Be Counted" campaign, later on Monday.
Scrum practice?
Twitter/@nick_cleggCopyright: Twitter/@nick_clegg
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has been braving the cold and trying his hand at a spot of rugby this morning. The Lib Dem leader tweeted a video in which he shows off some nifty ball skills and impressive speed, at an event to mark the Rugby World Cup which is being hosted in England and Wales this year.
BBC responds to debates row
The BBC's Chief Adviser, Politics, has defended the corporation's position with regard to the exclusion of Northern Ireland's political parties during a planned television election debate. Speaking to the Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster, Ric Bailey explained that the number of parties in Northern Ireland, which do not stand elsewhere in the UK, meant that it was difficult to include some and not others.
He accepted that some parties, such as the Conservatives and UKIP, do stand in Northern Ireland, but said that their electoral support was comparatively small. Mr Bailey refused to be drawn as to whether there had been consultation between London and the BBC in Belfast over the issue.
The Democratic Unionist Party, which is the fourth largest at Westminster, has threatened to take legal action over the matter.
HM Chief Inspectorate of ProbationCopyright: HM Chief Inspectorate of Probation
The chief inspector of the probation service in England and Wales has resigned because of a "potential perceived conflict of interest". Paul McDowell's decision relates to his wife's role as a senior manager at Sodexo, which has taken over the management of a number of probation contracts. Mr McDowell said it was "imperative that any inspectorate is independent and seen to be so". He took up his role in February 2014.
Academy 'chaos'
The shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, is critical of the prime minister's plans to create more academies. He says it will amount to more "structural chaos". "The question is not about sanctions, the question is about results for pupils. And as a select committee report said last week, there's no evidence to suggest that simply converting a school from maintained or local authority status to academy status, improves the results for young people."
Graphic: Schools in England
BBCCopyright: BBC
Universities UK CEO
Universities UK chief executive Nicola Dandridge says Labour's plan to cut tuition fees wouldn't help students, and could harm universities.
"It's not going to make a difference to students, in the sense that students themselves don't pay anything under the current system -- you only repay when you're a graduate and earning over £21,000. The concern from universities is that the reduction in fees from nine to six thousand, if that's what Labour decides to do, would lead to a really substantial funding shortfall to universities. And given all the other pressures on an incoming government, there's a real concern that the money wouldn't be made up."
Benedict Pringle
Advertising commentator
tweets: I'm going on @daily_politics on BBC2 at 12.50. Talking about running negative ads that feature the opponents leader. You must all tune in.
(You can watch The Daily Politics by clicking on the live coverage tab at the top of this page.)
#AskTheLeaders
SkyCopyright: Sky
"If there is no-one on the ballot paper who you think represents your views, still go to the polling station and if you want write a rude word on the ballot paper." Green Party leader Natalie Bennett tells the #AskTheLeaders debate, "Because if you don't vote, if you don't turn up, if you don't register, you are counted with the 'I'm happy enough with how things are' part of the group, and I don't think most people actually are."
And on the subject of young voters, if you or someone you know are aged between 18 and 24 and eligible to vote in May's General Election, the BBC wants to hear from you - but hurry, the application deadline is tonight. We are building Generation 2015, a UK-wide group of young voters who will take part in local and national BBC programmes in the run up to the General Election in May.
Bite the Ballot
Newsbeat
BBCCopyright: BBC
"If the politicians know you're not registered to vote and can't punish them at the ballot box it's much easier for them to let you down." As Newsbeat reports, Bite the Ballot believes it's so important young people vote it is holding events to get 18 to 24-year-olds signed up to the electoral register and encourage turnout. Did you know an estimated 44% of that age group voted in the 2010 general election?
After Boots boss Stefano Pessina's comments over the weekend saying Labour would not be helpful for business, how was the party to respond? "It was a blunt, headline-grabbing intervention that left Ed Miliband's party with three options... Say nothing... Find some equally big bosses who will say the opposite.... Or say something and ensure the story does not go away, but hope to steer it around to the party's own perspective," writes our political correspondent.
The paper says the expected intervention comes following speculation Mr Brown is to take a prominent role in his party's general election campaign.
Labour row with Boots
PACopyright: PA
The row between Labour and Boots chief Stefano Pessina is set to get bigger with Ed Miliband planning on adding his criticism at an event later, sources have told the BBC. Over the weekend, Mr Pessina said a Labour government would "not be helpful for business and not be helpful for the country".
"They create a sense of energy and momentum". The Labour Deputy leader Harriet Harman is to revive the grand tradition of the election battle bus. With Labour's women and equalities spokesperson Gloria del Piero she'll tour the country as a way of reaching female voters. Jonathan Collet, Michael Howard's press secretary during the 2005 campaign, says "they work".
Could this place turn Green in spring? Norwich South is high up on the Green party's target list for the general election. One voter told me the fact that different parties are in the mix this time round will encourage her to vote for who she really wants.
(Read more on the Today programme's 100 Constituencies feature in our 06:58 entry.)
#AskTheLeaders
Sky News is launching its #AskTheLeaders event today aimed at those age 16-25. Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Natalie Bennett will all attend. Find more on this Facebook page.
David Laws says the government has "designed a system... that is highly progressive and the evidence is that it is helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds."
The prime minister is speeding up the conversion of schools in England to academies, outside local government control. If they're judged by inspectors to be "requiring improvement" they could be forced to convert to academy status. At the moment only schools judged "inadequate" can be compelled to become academies.
David Laws, a Lib Dem, is the minister of state for schools and education, and says the evidence so far is that many of the early sponsor academies are doing a good job, but the converter academies (where little else changes other than the name plate on the door) "at the moment there isn't the evidence that they are doing better".
The cost to the taxpayer of universities is being "hidden off budget, below the line", says shadow chancellor Ed Balls. Hear him on the Today programme.
More from Caroline Lucas, who after ruling out any kind of coalition agreement with the Tories, says: "Our membership is going through the roof, it's doubled in less than a year... The Greens inspire vision and confidence."
It always used to be said that smaller parties would never get into government. But look what happened to the Liberal Democrats. And given the way the polls look for this election, a coalition is even more likely. The Today programme is looking at 100 constituencies in 100 days in the run up to the election. Today we've been focusing on the Greens (see 06:58). Caroline Lucas is their one MP, for Brighton Pavilion. She told the programme: "I want to be known as a good, local MP."
Kevin Maguire
Daily Mirror associate editor
tweets: Ed Balls eat 3 shredded wheat for breakfast? Fighting talk on universities and Boots' tax exile boss. Love to see Osborne v Balls TV debate
Post update
Nick Robinson
Political editor
tweets: Is @edballsmp planning to use "accounting wheeze" to "pay for" £3k tuition fee cut costing approx £2bn? Needs big change to Treasury rules
and
tweets: Under current Treasury rules the cost of cutting tuition fees appears on the books but the future cost of unpaid student debt does not
The leaders of universities in England have written to the Times criticising Labour's policy of reducing university fees from £9000 to £6000. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls says he "understands why universities want to keep the status quo" but the "status quo is not working at the moment". "We've see graduate contributions go up over 50%," but, he adds, it is costing the tax payer more not less. "Almost half of students are not repaying the fees," as they do not earn enough to repay their loans. This is being hidden off budget below the line and is a huge looming charge for the tax payer in the future, he warns.
tweets: Labour say "lot of public resentment" over Boots boss 'catastrophe' comments and "this is an argument we can win"
Analysis: Tory schools plans
Gillian Hargreaves
Education Correspondent, BBC News
In uncompromising language David Cameron will warn that any future Conservative government will in his words "wage war on mediocrity", saying teachers who deliver "just enough - aren't good enough".Approximately 3,500 schools are rated by government inspectors as "requires improvement "- one rank above failing . If the Conservatives win power at the next election, schools which appear to be coasting along and never improving risk being taken over by a more successful head teacher, local school or an academy chain. This new proposal risks further alienating teaching unions who've had a fractious relationship with the government. It's also questionable whether there are sufficient numbers of successful heads and schools willing to take over what could turn out to be hundreds if not thousands of more problematic schools.
In-finity Literacy
tweets: Nicky Morgan refuses to answer 11x12 times table question on BBC breakfast.
More from Education Secretary Nicky Morgan: "This is not about saying that heads would automatically be replaced..." she says of new Conservative education plans. "That might be one of the answers," she adds. "It is about that collaboration, about schools working together for the best."
Nicky Morgan interview
BBC Breakfast
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has joined BBC Breakfast from Westminster. She tells the programme letting children have the best start in life means "where a school doesn't have the capacity to improve itself... then one of the answers might be to get new leadership in".
As David Cameron prepares to outline new Tory plans for an "all-out war on mediocrity" on schools that could see thousands more become academies, Alasdair Smith of the National Secretary at the Anti-Academies Alliance tells the Today programme: "There is not a single scrap of evidence that academy status improves our education system".
Greek debt fears
quinntCopyright: quinnt
It's the fallout from the Greek election which troubles the Financial Times. The economist-turned-finance minister seeking to renegotiate Greece's huge debt obligations says his priority is the well-being of all Europeans and has ruled out accepting more bailout cash. After talks with his French counterpart, Yanis Varoufakis said a new debt deal was needed within months. Mr Varoufakis is in London on Monday for similar talks with the UK Chancellor George Osborne.
There's only one place in the country where voters know what it is like to vote for and get a Green party in charge. Brighton on the south coast has the first Green MP to sit at Westminster, and the UK's first Green council - albeit a minority-led administration.
The council has come in for some fierce criticism over the last few years. And now there are some fears that that criticism could hurt the party's chances of winning seats in May's general election.
And again away from schools, the Guardian leads on a council's warning about a new policy which it says makes developers less likely to build affordable housing.
Boots attack
Daily MailCopyright: Daily Mail
The Daily Mail leads on anger in the party at concern expressed by the tycoon who runs the Boots chain that the party is "anti-business". Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said people could decide if a businessman who did not live in the UK or pay British taxes could determine what was in the country's interest.
Ed Miliband's plans to cut tuition fees are in "some difficultly", our correspondent says. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has not been able to identify a suitable money-raising measure to fund the plan, he adds.
Higher education is the focus of the Times. The paper carries a letter from university vice-chancellors worried about the Labour leader's ambition to reduce tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000. The academics fear such a move would leave them more dependent on government money and would not address poorer students' main worries, the paper adds.Image caption: Higher education is the focus of the Times. The paper carries a letter from university vice-chancellors worried about the Labour leader's ambition to reduce tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000. The academics fear such a move would leave them more dependent on government money and would not address poorer students' main worries, the paper adds.
Education stories lead a trio of broadsheets on Monday - and our full round-up is live. The Daily Telegraph says "thousands" of schools could be taken over by the government in an "all-out war on mediocrity". The Independent's front highlights what it calls the "drop-out generation" - the 178,000 teenagers who flunk courses, wasting £800m of government money. Meanwhile higher education is the focus of the Times. The paper carries a letter from university vice-chancellors (paywall) worried about the Labour leader's ambition to reduce tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000.
David Cameron will make a speech later today in which he will say that thousands more schools could be taken over by academy chains if the Conservatives win the election. In a speech designed to set out the Tories' agenda for school improvements after the election, Mr Cameron will say any school rated as "requires improvement" by government inspectors - currently about 3,500 schools - will automatically be forced to become an academy unless it can show a clear plan for rapid improvement. Labour say raising standards depends on making sure that schools have qualified teaching staff.
The day ahead
We may get more detail from the Conservatives today on what they might be pledging, education-wise, in their manifesto after Nicky Morgan's indication on the Andrew Marr Show, that spending will be protected on schools for five to 16-year-olds. In what looks set to be a regular thing in the run up to the election there will be a fair number of speeches and visits from senior politicians. There is also going to be a Sky News/Facebook interactive leaders debate from noon.
Hello and welcome to a fresh day's coverage of political developments ahead of the 7 May General Election. There are now 94 days to go. You'll be able to listen or watch all the BBC's political output today on this page and we'll be bringing you all the best clips, quotes, analysis, reaction and breaking political news throughout the day. If you want to catch up with what happened on Sunday, here's yesterday's campaign countdown.
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The TimesCopyright: The Times Higher education is the focus of the Times. The paper carries a letter from university vice-chancellors worried about the Labour leader's ambition to reduce tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000. The academics fear such a move would leave them more dependent on government money and would not address poorer students' main worries, the paper adds.Image caption: Higher education is the focus of the Times. The paper carries a letter from university vice-chancellors worried about the Labour leader's ambition to reduce tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000. The academics fear such a move would leave them more dependent on government money and would not address poorer students' main worries, the paper adds. 
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Latest PostGoodnight
That's all from the Politics Live team for tonight, at the end of a day which saw education policy at the heart of political debate. The Conservatives announced plans to turn more schools into academies and to "protect" schools spending in "flat cash" terms, although not against inflation. Labour and the Liberal Democrats said the plans represented a "real-terms cut" and that other areas of education spending would be squeezed.
We'll be back at 06:00, with the latest news and comment, including from the Today programme and BBC Breakfast. In the Commons, MPs will debate controversial proposals to allow the creation of babies using DNA from three people.
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's FT: "Greek finance minister unveils bid to end stand-off with creditors" (via @suttonnick) #bbcpapers
Female voters
BBC Radio 4
Re-capping - more than a third of women are yet to decide who to vote for at the UK general election, a TNS poll for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour suggested.
Of those surveyed, 35% said they did not know who to cast their ballot for - compared with 25% of men. The poll also found the NHS, living costs and the cost of caring for family were of greatest concern for women. Read the full story here.
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Metro front page: "Rail users 'are being treated like criminals'" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday
Business row
In tomorrow's Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, a number of businessmen including former Marks & Spencer chairman Lord Rose - who is a Conservative peer - criticise the Labour leader and say he is trying to shut down debate. David Miliband had hit back at the Boots boss Stefano Pessina who had criticised Labour. On Twitter, the Labour media team said: "Ridiculous Mail splash tonight. They have revealed a Tory peer is attacking Labour. Shock."
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Independent: "Outcry after undercover film exposes brutality of halal industry" (via @suttonnick)
BBC Newsnight
@BBCNewsnight
tweets: Police mugshot database chief Mike Barton tells #newsnight he doesn't know how many of the people on there are convicted
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Daily Mirror: "Save cash for fuel bills by eating packed lunch" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Daily Express: "New pill can cure diabetes" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers
Ian Katz, editor of BBC Newsnight
@iankatz1000
tweets: 18m mugshots in police facial recognition biometric database include hundreds of thousands of people not convicted of any crime #newsnight
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Times: "Prince quits role as arms salesman to Middle East" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday
Michael Savage, chief political correspondent for The Times
@michaelsavage
tweets: In tomorrow's Times - Charles Clarke says voters don't currently think Labour would do any better than coalition.
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Guardian: "The locums on £1,760 a day" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's Telegraph: "Business chiefs hit back at Miliband" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers
Education spending
BBC Newsnight
BBC Two, 22:30
The Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has criticised Conservative plans to protect education spending for five- to 16-year-olds. He told Newsnight "The Tory commitment is in cash terms, not in real terms, and there is another worry which are the 16-19 year olds. The FE (Further Education) colleges are under financial pressure like the other institutions and this would hit them very badly as they wouldn't be protected."
Stubbing out
Smokers in Bristol are being asked not to light up in two of the city's public squares, in what's believed to be the first scheme of its kind in the UK. The ban isn't in law and can't be enforced, but organisers hope that people will refrain from smoking if they're asked politely.
Education secretary
Conservative Home
At ConservativeHome, Mark Wallace looks at "the many plates that Nicky Morgan must spin". He says the education secretary is beset with problems almost wholly inherited: "With a tough ministerial gig from the outset, a sometimes rebellious department, intervention from above and an election to fight, it's remarkable she's doing as well as she is."
Tomorrow's papers
@BBCNews
BBC News
UK
tweets: Tuesday's International NY Times: "On Ukraine front, rebels are upbeat" (via @suttonnick) #tomorrowspaperstoday
Bird flu
MP for Meon Valley George Hollingbery said the outbreak of bird flu was detected in the Hampshire village of Upham. He'd been told that any danger to the public was very low and the strain was a "mild one".
Tuition fees
The Guardian
The Guardian reports that Ed Miliband is delaying outlining Labour's tuition fee policy. He wants to cut fees in England to £6,000 a year, but the paper's political editor, Patrick Wintour, says he has "yet to find a way to fund the cut that satisfies the shadow chancellor Ed Balls".
BBC Newsbeat
@BBCNewsbeat
tweets: These 18 to 24-year-olds tell us what #GE2015 means to them... in one word http://bbc.in/1D6HhHc
No 'snoopers' charter' revival
A cross-party group of peers has dropped a second attempt to add the so-called "snoopers' charter" to the government's counter-terrorism bill. Lords King, Blair, Carlile and West wanted measures on communications data, rejected by the Lib Dems in 2012, to be included in the bill, saying they were vital tools for combating terrorism. But this evening they withdrew their amendment and it did not go to a vote.
Bird flu
The chief vet Nigel Gibbens says a "low severity" case of bird flu has been confirmed in chickens at a farm in Hampshire. "We are taking action to ensure that the disease does not spread or develop into a more severe form; we are investigating the possible sources of the outbreak," he said.
NUT on schools
Asked about Conservative plans to convert more schools to academies (semi-independent state-funded schools), Kevin Courtney, from the National Union of Teachers, said they were a "distraction" from the problems in England's schools. More and more teachers were leaving the profession he said, and "in just the last month, we've been told by councils that they're reaching a crisis point on places for children in schools".
Prison incident
Andy Martin
BBC Ireland correspondent
More than 40 prisoners have been involved in an incident at Northern Ireland's high security jail, reports the BBC's Ireland correspondent Andy Martin. It's understood prison officers left a wing which houses dissident republicans, after some inmates verbally threatened them over increased security measures. The prisoners are secure, but are not currently in the cells and nobody has been injured.
Post update
BBC Newsnight
BBC Two, 22:30
Tonight on @BBCNewsnight: Evan Davis interviews Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, about university tuition fees; investment in education, the Labour Party's campaign, and more. Tune in to Newsnight at 22:30 on BBC Two to see, or catch up afterwards on BBC iPlayer.
Labour fortunes
The Spectator
At The Spectator, Sebastian Payne says although Labour are tied with the Conservatives in Lord Ashcroft's latest poll and roughly half of respondents think the policies of the last few years have been the wrong ones, Ed Miliband's party "is still not trusted to run the country". Why? "The top reason is that voters fear Labour might spend and borrow more than the country can afford, closely followed by the perception they haven't made clear what it would do to improve things."
Kevin Maguire, Daily Mirror associate editor
@Kevin_Maguire
tweets: Britons want MORE government not LESS. That's broadly encouraging for the Left, bad for the Right https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/02/voters-believe-government-should-do-more-not-less/ …
Magna Carta
Half of young adults in the UK do not know what Magna Carta is, a survey for ITV News suggests. While seven out of 10 people as a whole correctly indentified it as part of Britain's constitution, among 18- to 34-year-olds, this figure dropped to five out of 10.
The four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, one of the most important legal documents in history, have recently been brought together to mark its 800th anniversary.
Lord Ashcroft poll
The Tories and Labour are still running neck and neck, according to the latest poll by the Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft, although both were down a point on last week at 31%. The Liberal Democrats are up two percentage points to 8%, but still trail Ukip, who are on 15% and the Greens, with 9%. The SNP were up a point at 4% in the telephone poll, which involved 1,002 adults between 30 January and 1 February.
Consultant's campaign
A hospital consultant who is terminally-ill has been backed by more than 90 NHS organisations in her campaign to get NHS staff to .
Education debate
Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, speaking to Channel 4 News, described David Cameron's announcements today as "very familiar old-school Tory policy", and said the government had found "tax cuts for millionaires, but not investment to support teachers, schools, early years, sixth form colleges".
Schools minister Nick Gibb, a Conservative MP, said not guaranteeing spending rises with inflation in the next parliament was difficult, but "a competent government has to take difficult decisions to ensure our public finances are on a sure footing".
Patrick Wintour, political editor of The Guardian
@patrickwintour
tweets: For once Vince Cable gets on front foot over tuition fees with five questions Labour needs to answer | Vince Cable http://gu.com/p/45e58/stw
Education debate
David Cameron says a future Conservative government would protect England's schools budget in cash terms, but per pupil funding would not keep pace with inflation. The prime minister said the government would provide a further £7bn for extra places for rising numbers of pupils. But Labour said Tory claims to protect funding were "unravelling" and represented a "real-terms cut".
Watch BBC News chief political correspondent Vicki Young give her analysis of the debate here.
Danny Shaw, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent
@DannyShawBBC
tweets: There were 38 murders & 106 rapes committed in 2013 by offenders on bail in Eng/Wales - FOI from @MoJGovUK Ministry of Justice.
Labour membership figures
The Labour Party has released figures which it says show party membership is at its highest since 2005. The party said it had 194,269 members, up from the 189,531 it reported at the end of 2013. Labour says this makes it "the biggest political party in the country going into the general election". The Conservatives recently said they had 224,000 paying members - up 30% in a year - although this includes their £1-a-year "supporters".
May2015, election website
@May2015NS
tweets: As Jan becomes Feb, polls are unchanged… LAB & CON exchanging leads (LAB in front more often). http://may2015.com/
Post update
James Landale
Deputy Political Editor, BBC News
The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale takes a look at divisions within the Conservative Party on the question of so-called English votes for English laws: "The debate is getting more complicated and it could be about to get more bloody."
Female voters
The Guardian
Responding to an earlier TNS poll for Radio 4 Woman's Hour, which revealed that more than one third of women are yet to decide who they will vote for on 7 May, Suzanne Moore in the Guardian says "for five years women have been in the frontline of cuts". She cautions: "The cost of ignoring women is huge for any political party. The actual cost of austerity has been paid for by women and children, often to devastating effect. Austerity, as it has been practiced, has been gendered."
Populus, polling organisation
@PopulusPolls
tweets: Latest Populus VI: Lab 34 (-1), Con 31 (-3), LD 8 (-2), UKIP 14 (-), Others 13 (+6). Tables here: http://popu.lu/sVI020215
Kamal Ahmed, BBC Business Editor
@bbckamal
tweets: Deutsche Bank on General Election - "A Labour-SNP coalition [is] the most likely outcome. But 3 months is a long time in politics."
'Relatively generous'
Vicki Young
Political correspondent, BBC News
BBC political correspondent Vicki Young says the schools settlement is "relatively generous" compared with other departments and raises questions over what will happen to other "un-protected departments". The Prime Minister has acknowledged head teachers will face difficult decisions despite the pledge to protect spending per pupil in "cash" terms.
Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent
@iainjwatson
tweets: What are Labour's options on student finance? Ed Miliband has said 'watch this space' - we try to fill in some of the blanks #r4 at 6
Most-connected Tweeters
Is your Twitter looking a bit empty as the election campaign hots up? The magazine GQ has compiled a list of the most-connected men on Twitter, with politicians and political commentators strongly represented in the top 20. Paul Waugh of PoliticsHome.com tops the list - ahead of the main party leaders.
Matt Chorley, Mail Online political editor
@MattChorley
tweets: UKIP-ocrites! Anti-immigration party mocked for sending out propaganda leaflets delivered by a BULGARIAN http://dailym.ai/1BPouM1
Schools spending
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, spending on schools in England increased from £39.7bn in 2010-11 to £41.6bn in 2014-15 - a real-terms increase of 4.7% or just over 1% per year on average. But because the number of pupils in state schools increased by 3.9% over the same period, the IFS calculated that spending per pupil had risen by only around 1% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15.
Voting by religion?
@LSEpoliticsblog
tweets: Religion is an important predictor of party choice in UK general elections http://buff.ly/16bxIdA
'Proper' jobs?
The Daily Telegraph
Ed Miliband has been the butt of some jokes today after claiming that his work experience outside politics was working as an economic adviser in the Treasury and as a teacher of government and economics at Harvard. At the Telegraph, James Kirkup looks at the numbers behind the rise of the "professional politician", and asks a question: "The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems are all currently led by men whose careers have been spent in and around politics. Could the next leadership contests they see a backlash against the career politicos?"
94 days of polls?
Over at the New Statesman's May2015.com, Chris Hanretty of Election Forecast explains that as the general election gets closer, polls become increasingly accurate at predicting the result. The sharpest increase in accuracy comes 50 days before the polls open - so take polls until 18 March with more than a pinch of salt...
Schools spending
Lib Dem education minister David Laws attacks the Conservative announcements on schools spending, saying schools are going to get "a rough ride" if the Tories retain power. The Conservatives say they will protect schools spending - per pupil - in cash terms and spend £7bn on places for rising numbers of pupils. But Mr Laws says that means spending on education for "early years" and 16- to 19-year-olds will face "massive cuts".
Labour under attack
Conservative Home
At ConservativeHome, Henry Hill says "today's editions of the five traditionally Conservative-inclined national papers" all have significant attacks on Labour, whether on the front page or inside. Describing it as "a very satisfying morning's reading in Tory HQ", Mr Hill says: "The advent of fixed-term Parliaments has seen the dramatic extension of the long campaign for the 2015 general election. If the Tory press maintain this level of aggression Labour is in for a punishing few months."
Education
At the blog Left Foot Forward, Ruby Stockham outlines five areas of education policy she claims the Conservatives have made worse.
James Chapman, Daily Mail political editor
@jameschappers
tweets: .@LordAshcroft latest: Con 31%, Lab 31%, Lib Dem 8%, UKIP 15%, Green 9% #GE2015
Police complaints
The number of recorded complaints against the police in England and Wales rose by 15 per cent last year. The Police Complaints Commission said almost 35,000 complaints were made in the year 2013 to 2014. A third were recorded by people accusing officers of neglect or a failure of duty.
Young voters drive
Michael Sani, of the Bite the Ballot group, is in Radio 1's Live Lounge, saying political education in schools should be improved to help engage more young people in politics. In 2010, only 44% of those aged 18 to 24 who were registered to vote in the general election voted, while among the over 65s, the proportion was 79%.
John Rentoul, columnist for the Independent on Sunday
@JohnRentoul
tweets: Nigel Farage not on Sky #AskTheLeaders because he's in Strasbourg, says @faisalislam
If I were prime minister...
The Independent
In the run-up to the general election, The Independent has been inviting one contributor daily to describe what they would do if they were prime minister. Today it's the turn of Jonathan Isaby, the chief executive of the TaxPayer's Alliance.
Counter-terrorism bill
Over in the House of Lords, peers are embarking on the first of two days' report-stage scrutiny of the government's Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, which will give new powers to UK security services. A cross-party group of peers is set to re-launch a bid to revive the "snoopers' charter" in the legislation. The debate is expected a little later this afternoon.
'Horrible' PMQs
David Cameron is taken to task by the young audience at the #AsktheLeaders event over Prime Minister's Questions. One person tells him it is "horrible and petty", with MPs shouting at one another. The Prime Minister talks about the intense noise in the Commons and says at times, MPs have to shout to make themselves heard.
Cameron's 'most unpopular move'
Prime Minister David Cameron tells the #AskTheLeaders event that the government's policy on badger culling was "probably the most unpopular for which I'm responsible", but sometimes in politics, you had to do things you knew were unpopular. The cull was needed, he said, to prevent TB spreading among cattle.
Saudi flag
At Sky News's Ask the Leaders event, David Cameron tells the audience that lowering the Union flag on government buildings to half-mast upon the death of the Saudi king was a mark of "respect", to acknowledge the long relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabia. Challenged about that relationship, Mr Cameron said that information from Saudi authorities on terrorism-related matters had helped save British lives.
Funding questioned
Earlier on the World at One the Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson, said David Cameron's school funding pledge meant the amount spent per pupil will go down in real terms. If you missed it, listen here to the full interview.
Labour manifesto
New Statesman
The New Statesman's political editor George Eaton reveals the key figures involved in drafting Labour's election manifesto, and says one issue as yet unresolved is when the party's wider "stakeholders " - such as trade unions - will get their regular chance to contribute.
#AskTheLeader
David Cameron is making an appearance at #AskTheLeader and he's giving career advice. He'd advise his children to think about doing an apprenticeship or going to university rather than leaving school at 18, he says. "You're more likely to have a successful career and a well-paid job if you do one of the two."
Brown speech
Gordon Brown says he wants Scotland to take charge of welfare and to reform the housing sector. Scottish Labour has been setting out proposals which go beyond those suggested by the Smith Commission, which was set up after the "vow" was signed by the main Westminster parties two days before the Scottish independence referendum.
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Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor
tweets: Gordon Brown and @jimmurphymp call for Scot Parliament to have power to top up UK benefits
Gordon Brown on 'the vow'
Ex-PM Gordon Brown is giving a speech in Edinburgh outlining further devolution commitments - it's time to "build on the vow", he says. He says he is announcing proposals for new powers for the Scottish parliament to "better cater" for poor people.
Young voters
At the Metro, Alex Stevenson has a list of suggested questions for 18-24 year olds to ask those who want their vote.
Kevin Maguire
Daily Mirror associate editor
tweets: "We were more or less where Greece was..." Lie or ignorance from Clegg to justify what he did in 2010 #AskTheLeaders
Clegg on coalition
Asked whether or not he would go into coalition again with a Conservative Party led by David Cameron, Nick Clegg says: "It's exactly like last time, it's not my choice or his choice or Ed Miliband's choice, it really is your choice." He calls himself "a pragmatic person", and says this means he has to "respond to the instructions given by the British people".
David Cameron
tweets: I'm looking forward to appearing on the Stand Up Be Counted debate on @SkyNews shortly. @SkySUBC
Leaders' debates row
After the TV leader debates were extended to seven parties, the BBC has been defending its decision to leave out those from Northern Ireland. The fourth largest Westminster party, the DUP, complained about its omission. The Corporation says impartiality was crucial and the BBC could not include "just one" party from Northern Ireland.
Clegg on tuition fees
Asked about his party's decision to raise tuition fees for university as part of coalition policy, Nick Clegg defends himself by saying that "more youngsters are now going to university than ever before, more youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds are going to university than ever before, more youngsters from black and ethnic minority backgrounds are going to university than ever before".
Clegg on #AskTheLeader
Lib Dem leader - and deputy prime minister - Nick Clegg is at Facebook HQ for #AskTheLeader Q&A. First up, and it's the NHS. "If you want to make sure that we keep people as healthy as possible... the most important thing to do is empower GPs, empower clinicians to put money where it will keep people healthy." Then on Trident he says: "Of course we should be climbing down that ladder".
Exceeding expectations
The Spectator
Over at The Spectator, Isabel Hardman says Ed Miliband's appearance before young voters today at a 'Stand Up and Be Counted' event was impressive, and shows why David Cameron doesn't want to engage in TV debates: "Miliband looking weird has become a cultural meme, which means that when he does appear in a debate, he will surprise voters by coming across far better than they'd expected."
Patrick Wintour
Political editor of The Guardian
tweets: "Facebook pays no UK corporation tax for 2nd year" but hosts Sky Leaders debates. standupbecounted and reach zero. http://gu.com/p/42k9j/stw
'Flat cash' for schools
Leading education specialists have suggested that David Cameron's announcement on funding for schools in England will amount to a cut in real terms. The Director of Policy at Teach First, Sam Freedman, has tweeted that so called "flat cash per pupil," combined with national insurance and pension changes for teachers, could mean cuts of between 7 and 10%.
Here is Mr Cameron's reply when quizzed about "flat cash" during a question and answer session at a school in North London earlier: "What does flat cash mean? What it means is that the cash sum that follows your child into the school will not be cut. Because the number of children going to school is going up, this has an implication that means in cash terms the school's budget is going to be rising. I accept that is a difficult decision for some schools, because the amount of cash per child is not going up by inflation, the amount of cash is staying the same. "
'Focus on teaching'
Responding to the prime minister's announcement that more schools will become academies under a future Conservative government, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt tells The World at One that Labour intends to focus instead "on the quality of teaching and strength of leadership".
Education funding
Conservative MP Graham Stuart welcomes the ring-fencing of the education budget. To put it in context, he tells Radio 4's World at One, "we are still spending £100bn more a year than we have coming in", adding, "we are spending more just paying interest than is spent on the whole school budget".
Osborne meets Greek FM
More from George Osborne after the meeting with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis at 11 Downing Street:
"The stand-off between Greece and the eurozone is fast becoming the biggest risk to the global economy and [it is a] risk and threat to our economy at home. In Europe as in Britain, now is the time to choose competence over chaos. I urge the Greek finance minister to act responsibly, but it's also important that the eurozone has a better plan for jobs and growth. We had that plan in Britain and in these uncertain times, now is not the time to abandon that plan."
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Jo Coburn
Daily Politics presenter
tweets: It got lively when I spoke to @Digbylj and @lucianaberger about the Boots boss' criticism of Labour
Watch it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02j4vmv …
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Robin Brant
Political Correspondent, BBC News
tweets: If you think @SkySUBC event is good I suspect @BBCNewsbeat q&a with leaders in #Ge2015 will be much more lively. Based on past experience.
Cameron on schools
Delivering his speech on education a little earlier, David Cameron said Conservative plans to protect funding per pupil in England would provide a further £7bn for places for rising numbers of pupils.
Osborne meets new Greek finance minister
The Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis settled in earlier in Number 11, where he had talks with George Osborne. They were "constructive", the chancellor reports.
Tuition fees 'chaos'
Responding to a question on Labour's plans to cut tuition fees, David Cameron criticises the party's "total failure" to explain how it would make up the "massive shortfall" in universities' funding - and said the plans would lead to "chaos". Labour is yet to unveil its policy but Ed Miliband has said he wants to reduce the cap from £9,000 to £6,000, which universities have branded "implausible".
Cameron speech
Following Nicky Morgan's lead, David Cameron declines to answer a maths question, saying he only does his times tables in the car with his children, which draws some laughs. Responding to a question on why he is convinced that academies are the answer, he says the evidence shows they work. We need impatience and intolerance of failure, he adds.
Cameron speech
David Cameron fields a couple of questions - including one by the BBC's Nick Robinson - about his pledge to ring-fence the schools budget - namely whether the commitment will lead to deeper cuts elsewhere. Mr Cameron says it is absolutely right to set out the Conservatives' priorities for education, and adds that the party has demonstrated it is prepared to take "difficult decisions", such as on welfare.
UKIP 'consider legal action against school'
UKIP are considering legal action against a school that it claims linked the party with the Holocaust during an assembly. Chellaston Academy in Derby showed a slide featuring a picture of Nigel Farage and a comment he made about Romanians. UKIP's East Midlands chairman Alan Graves has accused the school of "political indoctrination". The school said it was seeking legal advice before commenting. Read more.
Cameron speech
David Cameron concludes by saying the government is getting closer to its goal of ensuring every child in Britain has the best start in life - and thanks pupils, parents and teachers for their role in helping to bring this about. Time now for a Q&A session.
Cameron speech
The final commitment from David Cameron is for a guaranteed place on the National Citizenship Service for every teenager that wants it, because education alone "is not enough".
Cameron education speech
The prime minister says he wants 17,500 more maths and physics teachers to be trained over the next five years, to ensure we are the best country in the world at maths, science and computing. He also reiterates the Conservatives' pledge to create three million apprenticeships by 2020, paid for by reducing the benefit cap to £23,000 - which receives a clap from the audience. Together with there being no cap on university places, this should abolish youth unemployment in the country, he says.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron confirms that every failing and "coasting" school in England will be turned into an academy under a Tory government. Any school that cannot demonstrate it has the capacity to improve will have to become a sponsored academy, he says.
Cameron education speech
A future Conservative government would provide a "good primary school place for every child with zero tolerance for failure" if they win power in May, David Cameron pledges.
BreakingBreaking News
David Cameron commits his party to protecting funding per pupil at state schools in England over the course of the next Parliament.
Milband Q&A
That's the end of the televised section of the Q&A, although the Labour leader will continue to answer questions on Facebook, host Faisal Islam - who is Sky's political editor - says.
Miliband Q&A
Ed Miliband cannot guarantee to restore the education maintenance allowance if he leads the next government, he says. The EMA, which encouraged young people on low incomes to stay in full-time education, was scrapped in 2012. Mr Miliband says he won't make "false promises" without knowing how they will be paid for.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron says under Labour far too many children left schools without the necessary skills and qualifications - but this has changed under the coalition. He makes no apology for the rapid pace of change, he adds.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron is on his feet, and underlines the importance of every child having the best possible start in life. He says this begins with a strong family but centres on a proper education. A good education, he says, should not be a luxury or only for those who can afford it - but something that everyone can benefit from. "If we don't educate the next generation properly, we won't secure Britain's future," he adds.
Miliband Q&A
Asked how Labour will engage with Muslim communities in the UK, Mr Miliband says Muslims have a responsibility to challenge and prevent radicalisation before it happens and praises their response to last month's attacks in Paris. The Labour leader says he has changed his party's foreign policy, with regard to Iraq, and says people should speak up against Islamaphobia and anti-semitism wherever it manifests itself.
Nicky Morgan speech
Conservative Education Secretary Nicky Morgan provides some opening remarks ahead of David Cameron's speech, which is being delivered at a school in Enfield, north London. Mrs Morgan recalls her delight at being appointed to the Cabinet position, stressing her determination to ensure every child has the chance to master the basics and succeed in life. She goes on to praise the government's education reforms, which she says have created an "ambitious culture" in England's education system.
Miliband Q&A
Labour will produce a young person's manifesto at the election, Mr Miliband indicates, saying it is "incredibly important" to hear the voices of young people and place more trust in them.
McClusky attacks Ed critics
Len McCluskey, general secretary of the UK's largest union, Unite, has condemned "Blairite retreads" within the party who he accused of "undermining" the leadership of Ed Miliband. He told a meeting in Birmingham of 1,000 Unite officers he had asked the union's executive to donate £2.5m to Labour as a "duty to democracy".
Miliband Q&A
Asked about his experience outside politics and what influence it had on his leadership, Mr Miliband says he was "an economic adviser in the Treasury" and was a lecturer at Harvard University "listening and engaging" with people. He says he is in politics because "it makes a difference to our country".
Miliband attacks Boots chief
The Labour leader suggests people like Monaco-based Mr Pessina - who claimed a Labour government would be a catastrophe for business - were in an "unholy alliance" with the Conservatives in arguing that "things cannot change". He adds that "people at the top" cannot get away with not paying their tax in full.
Cameron education speech
David Cameron is making a speech on education, in which he is setting out his party's plans to reform struggling schools in England if it wins the general election. Mr Cameron is expected to announce that almost 3,500 schools rated as "requiring improvement" could be forced into new leadership to improve standards.
Miliband attacks Boots chief
Asked a question about tax, Mr Miliband turn his fire on Boots boss Stefano Pessina amid a row over the weekend over Labour's economic policy. The Labour leader accuses Mr Pessina of "lecturing people on how to vote" when he does not pay tax in the UK. Mr Miliband vows to take on "powerful forces" who are "avoiding tax". Read more on this issue here.
Undecided voters
BBC Radio 4
A poll for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour has suggested 35% of women are undecided over who to vote for at the general election - compared with 25% of men. The research by TNS also found that the NHS, living costs and the cost of caring for family were the three issues of greatest concern for women. Perhaps worryingly for the parties, the majority of adults polled did not think any party leader understands what life is like for them or their families.
Miliband Q&A
A group of 18-24 year olds is putting questions to Ed Miliband, having previously quizzed Green Party leader Natalie Bennett. The subjects being raised include the freedom of the internet and graduate employment. The Labour leader suggests there could be limits on unpaid internships.
Miliband Q&A
Ed Miliband is now answering questions at an "Ask the Leaders" event organised by Facebook and broadcast by Sky News. David Cameron and Nick Clegg will also appear at the event, part of the "Stand Up and Be Counted" campaign, later on Monday.
Scrum practice?
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has been braving the cold and trying his hand at a spot of rugby this morning. The Lib Dem leader tweeted a video in which he shows off some nifty ball skills and impressive speed, at an event to mark the Rugby World Cup which is being hosted in England and Wales this year.
BBC responds to debates row
The BBC's Chief Adviser, Politics, has defended the corporation's position with regard to the exclusion of Northern Ireland's political parties during a planned television election debate. Speaking to the Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster, Ric Bailey explained that the number of parties in Northern Ireland, which do not stand elsewhere in the UK, meant that it was difficult to include some and not others.
He accepted that some parties, such as the Conservatives and UKIP, do stand in Northern Ireland, but said that their electoral support was comparatively small. Mr Bailey refused to be drawn as to whether there had been consultation between London and the BBC in Belfast over the issue.
The Democratic Unionist Party, which is the fourth largest at Westminster, has threatened to take legal action over the matter.
Osborne meets new Greek finance minister
In Downing Street, Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has arrived at Number 11, where he was greeted by Chancellor George Osborne. Mr Varoufakis, a former economist, is seeking to renegotiate Greece's huge debt obligations. He says his priority is the well-being of all Europeans and has ruled out accepting more bailout cash.
BreakingBreaking News
The chief inspector of the probation service in England and Wales has resigned because of a "potential perceived conflict of interest". Paul McDowell's decision relates to his wife's role as a senior manager at Sodexo, which has taken over the management of a number of probation contracts. Mr McDowell said it was "imperative that any inspectorate is independent and seen to be so". He took up his role in February 2014.
Academy 'chaos'
The shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, is critical of the prime minister's plans to create more academies. He says it will amount to more "structural chaos". "The question is not about sanctions, the question is about results for pupils. And as a select committee report said last week, there's no evidence to suggest that simply converting a school from maintained or local authority status to academy status, improves the results for young people."
Graphic: Schools in England
Universities UK CEO
Universities UK chief executive Nicola Dandridge says Labour's plan to cut tuition fees wouldn't help students, and could harm universities.
"It's not going to make a difference to students, in the sense that students themselves don't pay anything under the current system -- you only repay when you're a graduate and earning over £21,000. The concern from universities is that the reduction in fees from nine to six thousand, if that's what Labour decides to do, would lead to a really substantial funding shortfall to universities. And given all the other pressures on an incoming government, there's a real concern that the money wouldn't be made up."
Benedict Pringle
Advertising commentator
tweets: I'm going on @daily_politics on BBC2 at 12.50. Talking about running negative ads that feature the opponents leader. You must all tune in.
(You can watch The Daily Politics by clicking on the live coverage tab at the top of this page.)
#AskTheLeaders
"If there is no-one on the ballot paper who you think represents your views, still go to the polling station and if you want write a rude word on the ballot paper." Green Party leader Natalie Bennett tells the #AskTheLeaders debate, "Because if you don't vote, if you don't turn up, if you don't register, you are counted with the 'I'm happy enough with how things are' part of the group, and I don't think most people actually are."
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Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor
tweets: Universities UK say Labour's planned cut in fees [will] be "very damaging to universities"
Stand Up Be Counted
tweets .@TheGreenParty's @natalieben says young people can deliver real change if they turn out to vote. #AskTheLeaders
and
tweets: You can watch #AskTheLeaders LIVE on http://FB.com/SkySUBC , on @SkyNews and at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfNjz9pqfkY …
Generation 2015
And on the subject of young voters, if you or someone you know are aged between 18 and 24 and eligible to vote in May's General Election, the BBC wants to hear from you - but hurry, the application deadline is tonight. We are building Generation 2015, a UK-wide group of young voters who will take part in local and national BBC programmes in the run up to the General Election in May.
Bite the Ballot
Newsbeat
"If the politicians know you're not registered to vote and can't punish them at the ballot box it's much easier for them to let you down." As Newsbeat reports, Bite the Ballot believes it's so important young people vote it is holding events to get 18 to 24-year-olds signed up to the electoral register and encourage turnout. Did you know an estimated 44% of that age group voted in the 2010 general election?
By the way, 5 February is National Voter Registration Day.
Labour row with Boots
Chris Mason
Political correspondent, BBC News
After Boots boss Stefano Pessina's comments over the weekend saying Labour would not be helpful for business, how was the party to respond? "It was a blunt, headline-grabbing intervention that left Ed Miliband's party with three options... Say nothing... Find some equally big bosses who will say the opposite.... Or say something and ensure the story does not go away, but hope to steer it around to the party's own perspective," writes our political correspondent.
Scotland powers
The Guardian
The Guardian is reporting that Scottish labour leader Jim Murphy and former PM Gordon Brown will on Monday pledge that a Labour government would radically extend Scotland's powers over welfare.
The paper says the expected intervention comes following speculation Mr Brown is to take a prominent role in his party's general election campaign.
Labour row with Boots
The row between Labour and Boots chief Stefano Pessina is set to get bigger with Ed Miliband planning on adding his criticism at an event later, sources have told the BBC. Over the weekend, Mr Pessina said a Labour government would "not be helpful for business and not be helpful for the country".
The bus is back
BBC Radio 4 Today
"They create a sense of energy and momentum". The Labour Deputy leader Harriet Harman is to revive the grand tradition of the election battle bus. With Labour's women and equalities spokesperson Gloria del Piero she'll tour the country as a way of reaching female voters. Jonathan Collet, Michael Howard's press secretary during the 2005 campaign, says "they work".
100 Constituencies
Matthew Price
BBC News
Could this place turn Green in spring? Norwich South is high up on the Green party's target list for the general election. One voter told me the fact that different parties are in the mix this time round will encourage her to vote for who she really wants.
(Read more on the Today programme's 100 Constituencies feature in our 06:58 entry.)
#AskTheLeaders
Sky News is launching its #AskTheLeaders event today aimed at those age 16-25. Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Natalie Bennett will all attend. Find more on this Facebook page.
Lib Dems on schools plan
BBC Radio 4 Today
David Laws says the government has "designed a system... that is highly progressive and the evidence is that it is helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds."
Lib Dems on schools plan
BBC Radio 4 Today
The prime minister is speeding up the conversion of schools in England to academies, outside local government control. If they're judged by inspectors to be "requiring improvement" they could be forced to convert to academy status. At the moment only schools judged "inadequate" can be compelled to become academies.
David Laws, a Lib Dem, is the minister of state for schools and education, and says the evidence so far is that many of the early sponsor academies are doing a good job, but the converter academies (where little else changes other than the name plate on the door) "at the moment there isn't the evidence that they are doing better".
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BBC Radio 4 Today
The cost to the taxpayer of universities is being "hidden off budget, below the line", says shadow chancellor Ed Balls. Hear him on the Today programme.
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BBC Radio 4 Today
tweets: Green Party MP Caroline Lucas on approach to the general election: #r4today #GE2015
Caroline Lucas interview
BBC Radio 4 Today
More from Caroline Lucas, who after ruling out any kind of coalition agreement with the Tories, says: "Our membership is going through the roof, it's doubled in less than a year... The Greens inspire vision and confidence."
Caroline Lucas interview
BBC Radio 4 Today
It always used to be said that smaller parties would never get into government. But look what happened to the Liberal Democrats. And given the way the polls look for this election, a coalition is even more likely. The Today programme is looking at 100 constituencies in 100 days in the run up to the election. Today we've been focusing on the Greens (see 06:58). Caroline Lucas is their one MP, for Brighton Pavilion. She told the programme: "I want to be known as a good, local MP."
Kevin Maguire
Daily Mirror associate editor
tweets: Ed Balls eat 3 shredded wheat for breakfast? Fighting talk on universities and Boots' tax exile boss. Love to see Osborne v Balls TV debate
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Nick Robinson
Political editor
tweets: Is @edballsmp planning to use "accounting wheeze" to "pay for" £3k tuition fee cut costing approx £2bn? Needs big change to Treasury rules
and
tweets: Under current Treasury rules the cost of cutting tuition fees appears on the books but the future cost of unpaid student debt does not
Ed Balls interview
BBC Radio 4 Today
The leaders of universities in England have written to the Times criticising Labour's policy of reducing university fees from £9000 to £6000. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls says he "understands why universities want to keep the status quo" but the "status quo is not working at the moment". "We've see graduate contributions go up over 50%," but, he adds, it is costing the tax payer more not less. "Almost half of students are not repaying the fees," as they do not earn enough to repay their loans. This is being hidden off budget below the line and is a huge looming charge for the tax payer in the future, he warns.
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Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor
tweets: Labour say "lot of public resentment" over Boots boss 'catastrophe' comments and "this is an argument we can win"
Analysis: Tory schools plans
Gillian Hargreaves
Education Correspondent, BBC News
In uncompromising language David Cameron will warn that any future Conservative government will in his words "wage war on mediocrity", saying teachers who deliver "just enough - aren't good enough".Approximately 3,500 schools are rated by government inspectors as "requires improvement "- one rank above failing . If the Conservatives win power at the next election, schools which appear to be coasting along and never improving risk being taken over by a more successful head teacher, local school or an academy chain. This new proposal risks further alienating teaching unions who've had a fractious relationship with the government. It's also questionable whether there are sufficient numbers of successful heads and schools willing to take over what could turn out to be hundreds if not thousands of more problematic schools.
In-finity Literacy
tweets: Nicky Morgan refuses to answer 11x12 times table question on BBC breakfast.
Nicky Morgan interview
BBC Breakfast
Nicky Morgan says there are millions of children in this country "who are doing well, but could do better". Presenter Bill Turnbull sneaks in a last question: "So what is 11x12?". That question comes a day after it was announced that under Tory plans all children in England will be expected to know up to their 12 times table when they leave primary school. Ms Morgan refuses to answer.
Nicky Morgan interview
BBC Breakfast
More from Education Secretary Nicky Morgan: "This is not about saying that heads would automatically be replaced..." she says of new Conservative education plans. "That might be one of the answers," she adds. "It is about that collaboration, about schools working together for the best."
Nicky Morgan interview
BBC Breakfast
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has joined BBC Breakfast from Westminster. She tells the programme letting children have the best start in life means "where a school doesn't have the capacity to improve itself... then one of the answers might be to get new leadership in".
Tory education plans
BBC Radio 4 Today
As David Cameron prepares to outline new Tory plans for an "all-out war on mediocrity" on schools that could see thousands more become academies, Alasdair Smith of the National Secretary at the Anti-Academies Alliance tells the Today programme: "There is not a single scrap of evidence that academy status improves our education system".
Greek debt fears
It's the fallout from the Greek election which troubles the Financial Times. The economist-turned-finance minister seeking to renegotiate Greece's huge debt obligations says his priority is the well-being of all Europeans and has ruled out accepting more bailout cash. After talks with his French counterpart, Yanis Varoufakis said a new debt deal was needed within months. Mr Varoufakis is in London on Monday for similar talks with the UK Chancellor George Osborne.
100 Constituencies
BBC Radio 4 Today
There's only one place in the country where voters know what it is like to vote for and get a Green party in charge. Brighton on the south coast has the first Green MP to sit at Westminster, and the UK's first Green council - albeit a minority-led administration.
The council has come in for some fierce criticism over the last few years. And now there are some fears that that criticism could hurt the party's chances of winning seats in May's general election.
As part of Today's focus on 100 constituencies in the 100 days ahead of that election, chief correspondent Matthew Price went to Brighton, where he rather regretted "going green" in the city's new cycle lanes.
Home rules
And again away from schools, the Guardian leads on a council's warning about a new policy which it says makes developers less likely to build affordable housing.
Boots attack
The Daily Mail leads on anger in the party at concern expressed by the tycoon who runs the Boots chain that the party is "anti-business". Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said people could decide if a businessman who did not live in the UK or pay British taxes could determine what was in the country's interest.
Universities attack Labour plan
Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor
Ed Miliband's plans to cut tuition fees are in "some difficultly", our correspondent says. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has not been able to identify a suitable money-raising measure to fund the plan, he adds.
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BBC Radio 4 Today
tweets: Read this morning's full running order and listen to the programme here: http://bbc.in/1vov3Zx#r4today
The Papers
Education stories lead a trio of broadsheets on Monday - and our full round-up is live. The Daily Telegraph says "thousands" of schools could be taken over by the government in an "all-out war on mediocrity". The Independent's front highlights what it calls the "drop-out generation" - the 178,000 teenagers who flunk courses, wasting £800m of government money. Meanwhile higher education is the focus of the Times. The paper carries a letter from university vice-chancellors (paywall) worried about the Labour leader's ambition to reduce tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000.
Universities attack Labour plan
Meanwhile Labour have come under fire from leading universities who have described the party's plans to cut the tuition fees cap from £9,000 to £6,000 as "implausible".
Cameron schools speech
David Cameron will make a speech later today in which he will say that thousands more schools could be taken over by academy chains if the Conservatives win the election. In a speech designed to set out the Tories' agenda for school improvements after the election, Mr Cameron will say any school rated as "requires improvement" by government inspectors - currently about 3,500 schools - will automatically be forced to become an academy unless it can show a clear plan for rapid improvement. Labour say raising standards depends on making sure that schools have qualified teaching staff.
The day ahead
We may get more detail from the Conservatives today on what they might be pledging, education-wise, in their manifesto after Nicky Morgan's indication on the Andrew Marr Show, that spending will be protected on schools for five to 16-year-olds. In what looks set to be a regular thing in the run up to the election there will be a fair number of speeches and visits from senior politicians. There is also going to be a Sky News/Facebook interactive leaders debate from noon.
Good morning
Alex Hunt
Politics editor, BBC News Online
Hello and welcome to a fresh day's coverage of political developments ahead of the 7 May General Election. There are now 94 days to go. You'll be able to listen or watch all the BBC's political output today on this page and we'll be bringing you all the best clips, quotes, analysis, reaction and breaking political news throughout the day. If you want to catch up with what happened on Sunday, here's yesterday's campaign countdown.
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