James Landale
Deputy Political Editor, BBC News

James Landale, speaking on the BBC News at Ten, offers some insight into the broadcasters' thoughts behind the scenes. Privately, he says, they think No 10's proposal for a single TV debate is a "pretty meagre offer". He adds: "They also reject the idea this has been a chaotic campaign. Others suggest doubt one political party will be able to dictate terms in this process." This means the prospects of any TV debate are now far from clear: "Water that was pretty muddy has just got even muddier."

The holding statement from the broadcasters in response to Downing Street's TV debates ultimatum confirms that they have received a letter and pledges commitment to "providing our audiences with election debates", before adding: "22 million people watched the debates in 2010 and we believe the debates helped people to engage with the election. The broadcasters have set out their proposals and continue to talk to all the relevant parties on an equitable basis. We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course."

The Guardian

Lord Ashcroft predicted a 272-272 dead heat this evening as he released his latest batch of marginal polls. The Guardian has now updated its poll projection, external by boosting the Tories' advantage by four seats - giving them 276 to Labour's 271. The SNP are forecast to get 52, with the Lib Dems on 25, others on 21 and UKIP on four. If that was the result, it would mean another two-party coalition would seem improbable:

• Labour and the SNP would not have enough MPs between them for a clear majority

• Labour and the Lib Dems would be even further away from a workable coalition

• The current coalition couldn't form a stable government either

• The only plausible scenario for a comfortable majority involves combining Labour's MPs with those of the SNP and the Liberal Democrats

tweets, external: By denying voters the chance to compare +contrast the two men who want to lead our country, Cameron is displaying breathtaking arrogance.

Image source, AP

Here's a bit more on Downing Street's proposal for a single 90-minute debate:

• The seven leaders of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, UKIP, Plaid and SNP parties should be invited, with the DUP leader permitted to argue his case for inclusion

• Lots should be drawn between the broadcasters as to which channel hosts the debate

• The debate should take place in the week beginning 23 March

tweets, external: I sometimes think UKIP policy depends on who Nigel Farage met in the pub the night before.

tweets, external: SNP surge helps Cameron but at what cost? I'd rather live a lifetime under Labour than a day in a fractured, diminished, disunited Kingdom.

The Daily Telegraph

According to the Daily Telegraph, external, Mr Cameron has reportedly made a "final offer" to the broadcasters in a letter to Sue Inglish, chair of the broadcasters' leaders' debates committee, from his director of communications Craig Oliver.

It reportedly reads: "Despite the prime minister having been clear about his concern around holding debates in the short campaign, you did not consult us before issuing a press release last October outlining your plans for three debates during that period. Had you consulted us, we could have also told you that we also did not think it was appropriate to exclude the Green Party from the process.

"Despite all of this, we then entered into negotiations in good faith, during which I made the case for a more representative debates structure, including the Greens. It is fair to say that the desire to exclude the Greens was clear from all other parties present.

"Three months later - and again without consultation - you surprised us again by proposing a new seven-party structure, this time not only inviting the Greens, but Plaid Cymru and the SNP as well. Again, this was a flawed proposal - that has resulted in the DUP initiating what appears to be legitimate legal action.

"Since this proposal has been suggested, there has been chaos. In recent weeks, you have avoided letting the parties sit in a room to hammer out proposals, making progress impossible."

"This is our final offer, and to be clear, given the fact this has been a deeply unsatisfactory process and we are within a month of the short campaign, the prime minister will not be participating in more than one debate."

The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph, external is reporting that David Cameron has ruled out taking part in a head-to-head election debate with Ed Miliband and has "sent an ultimatum" to broadcasters that he will only take part in a single debate between seven leaders provided it is staged before 30 March, more than a month before the general election on 7 May.

This is BBC Scotland correspondent James Cook's take on the Ashcroft polling we have been discussing this evening.

The Daily Telegraph

Image source, Getty Images

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, external, Dan Hodges suggests UKIP have "fatally overplayed their hand" when it comes to immigration and are now "in retreat". "The inflammatory language is gone. The posters of burning Union Jacks and forlorn British brickies are gone. The 50,000 net annual immigration target is gone," he writes. In its place, he suggests, are a range of measures which amount to "your typical managed migration boilerplate".

BBC News Channel

Alp Mehmet, a vice-chair of the immigration pressure group Migrationwatch, has been on the BBC News channel after a day of debate about the issue. His view is that more control is needed on new arrivals: "A lot of them are skilled, a lot of them are not skilled, some of them are frankly looking for a better life," he says. "That's what we need to control." Mr Mehmet was an immigration officer in the 1970s when, he says, the government's approach was more effective. "There's a great deal that we've abandoned that we could revert to," Mr Mehmet claims. "One is interviewing people - looking people in the eye and confirming what they're saying is true, that if they are coming here for a short stay that is indeed what they intend to do. At the moment there is less control on that than there should be."

tweets, external: It is truly pathetic to see Cameron twisting and turning to try to get out of TV debates with @Ed_Miliband . Is it because he is #chicken ?

Sky News

Independent journalist John Rentoul tells Sky News it was a "complete fluke" that election debates took place at all in 2010 as it just happened to suit all of the three main party leaders. With UKIP, the Greens and the SNP to be factored in this time, things are much more complicated and, in his opinion, the debates won't happen. The public will be short-changed but "that's life", he suggests.

Image source, Reuters

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has offered his take on Lord Ashcroft's polling presentation, which suggests that the SNP could win 56 of Scotland's 59 seats. He said: "This is bad news for Scottish Labour but great news for the Tories. David Cameron will be rubbing his hands with glee when he sees these polls, because any seat the SNP take from Scottish Labour makes it more likely the Tories will be the largest party across the UK."

tweets, external: UKIP left in the dark on @Nigel_Farage's immigration policies - just making it up as he goes along

Perhaps the most striking conclusion from Lord Ashcroft's polls, external out this evening is the prediction he's making about what all these numbers mean for the national picture. "As things stand, Labour losses in Scotland could offset their gains from the Tories, leading to something close to a dead heat," the Tory peer says. His forecast is that Labour and the Tories could both end up with 272 seats in the Commons. "This, then, is the battle: can the Conservatives fight back against Labour faster than Labour can fight back against the SNP? It is just as well I never bet on politics."

tweets, external: Huge honour to wish Westminster @Plaid_Cymru leader Elfyn Llwyd a great retirement at St David's Day reception

Image source, Twitter

Image source, Lord Ashcroft

Here's the table showing the results of Lord Ashcroft's polling, released this evening, in eight Scottish marginal seats. Some of the more eye-watering statistics worth highlighting are:

• In Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Gordon Brown's constituency, the SNP are registering a swing of 28.5% that puts them on track to take the seat

• The SNP lead by 5% in former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy's constituency of Ross, Skye and Lochaber

• It's a dead heat right now in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale - the only Conservative-held seat in Scotland

• Labour has an advantage of just 1% in East Renfrewshire, where the party's Scottish leader Jim Murphy faces a 20.5% swing by the SNP

House of Lords
Parliament

In the Lords ministers have seen off an attempt by peers to clamp down on short-term holiday let arrangements in London. Right now "Airbnb-style" arrangements are technically illegal in the capital, so the government is tweaking the law to allow Londoners to let out their homes for up to 90 days a year. But peers had suggested the limit should be 60 days - and that the council should be notified every time a let took place. Their amendment was defeated with a government majority of 37.