Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor

More from Norman Smith on Ed Miliband's decision to curb pension tax reliefs to pay for reduced university tuition fees. Norman Smith says it is significant that "at a time when the Tories are straining every sinew to appeal to the grey vote, Mr Miliband is asking those of us of a certain age to prepare to have our pensions hit to pay for our children". The universities themselves are "deeply wary" of the policy, he suggests, fearing it will make them more dependent on state funding. At "north of £2bn", the policy will be "Labour's biggest ticket" going into the May election - but there's "no disguising [there is] opposition to it both inside and outside the Labour Party".

Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor

Norman Smith tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the drive to reduce tuition fees is something "very personal" for Ed Miliband, who has been pushing this policy for "a long, long time now". It's to be paid for by curbing pension tax reliefs - and indeed, "the manner in which he's going to pay for this is almost as interesting as the policy itself". The Labour leader will try to sell the policy on grounds of "inter-generational fairness", which in reality means he will be asking "tomorrow's pensioners to dip into their pockets to pay for their children". Ed Miliband's "British promise" is that every generation should be able to prosper more than the preceding one.

It was a lively Question Time last night, with top billing given to the revelations that UK net migration reached 298,000 in the year ending September 2014. UKIP's Mark Reckless was scathing, while Conservative chairman Grant Shapps conceded the figures were "disappointing". Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves argued that more needs to be done for migrants earning less than the minimum wage, while Lib Dem Tessa Munt joined her party leader Nick Clegg in saying David Cameron's initial vow to reduce immigration was "a silly promise to have made".

Image source, AFP

UKIP's two-day gathering in Margate comes at a crucial time for the party, will polls suggesting it could win a number of seats - including several in Kent - on 7 May. Among those speaking on Friday include deputy leader Paul Nuttall and health spokeswoman Louise Bours. Party leader Nigel Farage will also address activists at about 16.00 GMT. He has had a busy few hours. On Thursday, he addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in the US state of Maryland, sharing a stage with Tea Party movement star Sarah Palin.

Robin Brant
Political Correspondent, BBC News

Image source, European Photopress Agency

The BBC's Robin Brant says UKIP's spring conference in Margate is a "rallying cry" for Nigel Farage, with the UKIP leader contesting neighbouring Thanet South in the general election. A win there is "essential for his survival".

Image source, PA

Ed Miliband is to set out Labour's plans to cut £9,000 university tuition fees by a third. In a speech in Leeds, he will reveal how a Labour government - which originally introduced fees in 2006 - would find the money to pay for such a reduction. The rising level of student debt has been a "disaster for the future of Britain", he will say. After warnings from some quarters that a reduction in fees would lead to a funding gap for universities, the Labour leader will reveal today how he would cover the costs.

Hello and welcome to the BBC's Live Page coverage for Friday 27 February. The business in the Commons today is almost entirely focused on the official reading of legislation - but don't think that means it'll be a quiet day in the political world. We're coming in to spring conference season: UKIP's kicks off in Margate today, and the Lib Dems gather in Cardiff for the last meeting of party activists before the general election. Labour leader Ed Miliband will set out his party's plans to cut tuition fees to £6,000 if it is elected. Chancellor George Osborne will be in Manchester to talk devolution of NHS services but is also likely to face questions about a report from MPs that says his claim last year to have halved the UK's £1.7bn EU budget surcharge is "not supported by the facts". We'll bring you all the latest news, views and analysis during the day - from the BBC and beyond.