Campaign countdown: 17 February

Summary

David Cameron says young people out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits if the Tories win the election
However, Labour says it would do "nothing" to get youngsters into "real jobs"
Church of England bishops say it is the "duty" of all Christian adults to vote in May's general election
Channel 4 docudrama UKIP: The First 100 Days prompts hundreds of complaints to media watchdog Ofcom
A former chair of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee leaves the party to support UKIP at the general election
There are 79 days until the general election

Live Reporting

Nick Eardley and Tom Moseley

National Crime Agency responsepublished at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
An NCA spokesman defended the agency's performance in the face of MPs' criticism: "The NCA's aim is to reduce the impact of serious and organised crime, not to generate revenue."
MPs report on National Crime Agencypublished at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
The National Crime Agency must "drastically" improve its performance on recovering criminal assets, a parliamentary report has said despite recouping almost £8 million more in its first year after taking over from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). The warning has come from the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee.
More on inflationpublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
The rate of Consumer Price Index inflation fell to a record low of 0.3% in January from 0.5% in December.
Inflation falls againpublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Here it is, latest inflation data. The rate of Retail Price Index inflation fell to 1.1% from 1.6% the previous month, the Office for National Statistics says.
Postpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Paul Waugh, editor of PoliticsHome.com
Tweets:, external In Times, female Tory minister worries that recent attack ads deter women. But in Guardian/ICM, Tories now lead Lab 38%-32% among women #WRM
'All stick and no carrot'published at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
"These placements are not designed to help someone into work, more to punish" - that's the Liberal Democrats' reaction to their coalition partner's latest welfare plan. A spokesman continued: "Just like the Tory plans to axe housing benefit for young people, it's all stick and no carrot. Young people should be given help and support into the work place, help at job centres, and the opportunity to get on in life, not just written off as feckless and lazy. We must make sure young people leave school with the skills they need to succeed, which is why Liberal Democrats will protect education spending."
Youth benefitspublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent, BBC News
The policy is aimed at teenagers who go "straight from school to the dole queue". There remains the question, however, of how many people will actually be affected by the policy given that the school leaving age has risen to 18.
'Climate of fear'published at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
The Guardian
Columnist Polly Toynbee, at the Guardian, has written a piece about the state of the NHS and about what she claims is a "climate of fear, external" created by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Register to votepublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
If you want to take part in May's general election then don't forget to register to vote, external. It only takes five minutes to do, but you will need to have your national insurance number to hand.
Inflation figurespublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Just a quick heads up, we're expecting the latest inflation figures at 9.30am. Will wage growth continue to outstrip price rises? Stick with us to find out.
Fox-hunting ban anniversarypublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Image source, Getty Images
Wednesday will mark the 10-year anniversary of the introduction of the Hunting Act. The ban on hunting with dogs in England and Wales was a culmination of years of political wrangling. The legislation was pushed through by Labour backbenchers in November 2004 and outlawed fox-hunting, deer-hunting and hare-coursing with dogs. BBC News looks at what the situation is like now.
Hardest to reachpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent, BBC News
The Tory welfare plan is seen as a way of targeting those who might be the most difficult to help - those who could otherwise spend a lifetime on benefits.
Tory welfare policypublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Here's a quick recap on one of the main political stories of the day - David Cameron's welfare speech.
The gist of his policy means:
- Young people out of work, education or training for six months will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits.
- The scheme will involve about 30 hours a week of mandatory work, such as making meals for older people. Click here to read full story.
- Some 50,000 18-21-year-olds will reportedly be affected.
C of E call to votepublished at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
BBC Radio 4 Today
The Church's letter is about "the problem with disenchantment and cynicism that we have with professional politicians", said Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson.
He added: "It's not talking about policy, really, as much as it's talking about values and principles. It's not about how you vote - it's about why you vote, and it's helping people to think these things through and take a fresh look at things. I think the Church contains all kind of people and we're not telling them how to vote - we're telling them why to vote."
Unpublished NHS reportpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
One story that may gain traction concerns an unpublished report that seemingly criticises the state of the NHS. According to the Financial Times, external, former Marks and Spencer chairman Lord Rose found the overall standard of management in the health service to be "totally shocking", with managers able to move to new jobs without being held accountable for their actions in previous ones. A source told the newspaper the report was given to the Department of Health in December, but had been put "on the back burner of the back burner".
Postpublished at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Tweets, external: Mr Miliband appears unable to couch his beliefs in such a way as to build support for them, external
Image source, The Economist
'The entitlement of young people'published at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
BBC Radio 4 Today
More from education select committee chairman Graham Stuart MP on today's story about sex education in schools in England. He told Radio 4's Today programme: "When you put that in the context of cyber-bullying, 'sexting', pervasive internet pornography; with the backdrop of child abuse scandals in Rotherham, Manchester and beyond; we feel that it is the entitlement of young people to be given the education and the information they need, and we know that that view is overwhelmingly backed by parents, young people themselves and indeed by teachers."
Postpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Postpublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent, BBC News
Tweets, external: RT @grvlx001: HMRC still not giving interviews over a week after the HSBC story first broke. #r4today
Postpublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2015
BBC Radio 4 Today
In response to Tory MP Nadine Dorries' comments, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, says: "We are not telling people how to vote," but instead trying to encourage people to take part in the political process.