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Iain Dale has described the moment on his live radio show when Conservative MP Bob Stewart threatened to resign over defence spending cuts.

In his conservativehome, external column, Mr Dale writes: "I put it to him that it was politicians, not generals, who make defence policy and that, as a member of the Defence Select Committee, perhaps it would be better if he took the lead and led by example. Much to my surprise, he took up the cudgels and said that not only might he resign from the committee but he was thinking of resigning his seat too."

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Eric Pickles MP has described his harrowing experience of getting a parking ticket.

The communities secretary told the World at One he had a ticket in his hand, stopped to speak to someone briefly but by the time he got back to the car he had been given a fine. "It made me a very bitter person and twisted my life," he said.

Eleanor Garnier
Political correspondent

A Green Party press officer has denied the party has ever had a policy to ban cars.

The Green Party Spring Conference agenda has a section for discussion titled "Removing Our Policy to Ban All Cars". Lower down in the text it says the "current transport policy has a line that would ban almost all currently roadworthy cars" and goes on to add that "this would probably prove unattractive with the electorate".

But a Green Party press officer said that it had never been party policy and the member who'd put the motion down had used his words cleverly to get his motion to the top of the agenda.

BBC Radio 4

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Scottish Labour are downplaying the prospect of a deal with the SNP.

Speaking to the World at One immediately after SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie MP - who was far more optimistic - Glasgow MP Ian Davidson said he didn't think there was "any possibility" of a confidence and supply deal with the nationalists.

tweets, external: [Labour MP Ian] Davidson:"There isn't any possibility of a confidence and supply motion" with SNP #wato

BBC Radio 4

Deputy Leader of the SNP Stewart Hosie says the SNP's position on Trident doesn't "necessarily" rule out a deal with Labour.

Asked whether disagreement over the issue would prevent a pact with Labour, Mr Hosie told the World at One: "Not necessarily - three quarters of Labour candidates back the SNP's position."

BBC Radio 4

Professor and psephologist John Curtice has told the World at One that the independence referendum proved to be a "two-year free advert" for the SNP's vision of Scotland.

But he added that he SNP's vote is very sensitive and the "tide doesn't have to be reduced by much" for Labour to hang on to its seats. But there is a desperately short time for Labour to turn things around. For the latest of play on the SNP and Labour read this.

Ed Miliband is taking questions from the public, including Labour Party members, in Redcar. He has just said Labour would look at increasing the minimum wage for young people - currently £3.50 an hour for 18 to 20-year-olds - but not by so much that it would "have an effect on young people's employment".

BBC Radio 4

The World at One coming up shortly on Radio 4. You can listen via our Live Coverage tab.

Daily Politics
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Molly Scott Cato, the Green MEP, says her party wants a politics that moves beyond austerity - hence support for a "progressive alliance" with the SNP and Plaid Cymru, which could hold the balance power after May's election.

She says she doesn't know anyone in the party who wants Caroline Lucas to replace Natalie Bennett in the TV debates (if they happen) - both are excellent performers, she adds (bookmakers are offering odds of 2-1 that Lucas will represent the party in any debates).

The MEP says the party's housing policy - which led to Natalie Bennett's famous "brain fade" in a live LBC radio interview - would cost £19.5bn over the next parliament. The party is "committed to the principle" of the citizen's incomes and will open the figures up for debate soon. She claimed earlier that there was a "great sense of sisterhood" among the Green Party's leaders.

Daily Politics
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Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru's leader, admits her party has "some way to go" before Wales has a referendum on independence - "we've got a challenge", she tells Andrew Neil. But she says there is no doubt there is increasing support for more powers.

Ms Wood, speaking from her party's spring conference in Caernarfon, says she would not prop up a Conservative government after the election. From Labour, she would want a end to "the politics of austerity" and a new devolution deal for Wales. Follow the party's conference here.

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

English nationalism is always seen as something negative, unlike Scottish and Welsh nationalisms, says Julia Hartley-Brewer. The panel are discussing the role of the English Democrats with the party's leader Robin Tilbrook, who says he wants England as a single, independent nation - not broken up into constituent parts, but standing alone.

tweets, external: 1 month until biggest reforms to pensions in a century come in. Your money, your choice #pensionfreedoms

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

We can't "go around preaching" to other NATO countries that they should spend 2% of their GDP on defence and not do it ourselves, says Bob Stewart. But he says he won't resign from the Conservative Party on the issue. Journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown suggests the UK needs a "different kind" of defence.

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Ed Miliband is in Redcar, on the Yorkshire coast, to set out his offer to pensioners at the general election. "Even in these tough times," he says, "we will strengthen the protection for pensioners." The party would cut the winter fuel allowance for better-off pensioners, but all other benefits, including TV licences for the over 75s and bus passes, would be untouched if Labour wins power. Full details here.

tweets, external: I hear ITV contemplating going unilateral and hosting a 7 way debate as per No10 offer, as they have 1st one. Would send BBC/Sky apoplectic.

Daily Politics
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Colonel Bob Stewart, the Tory MP, says he feels "horror" at the prospect of defence spending falling after the election. The former British Army officer says defence is the first priority, and we are already "down to the bare minimum". He disputes the idea there are no votes in defence, saying the public cares about the issue. Debate is raging in the Conservative Party over whether defence spending should be ring fenced at 2% of GDP.

Daily Politics
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On the subject of a possible Labour/SNP deal after the election, journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown says Ed Miliband should not rule out a possible pact - it would "be a mistake", she thinks. Julia Hartley-Brewer agrees - "everything is to play for", but Mr Miliband should set out what his red lines are and what deals he might do.

But is it a nationalist trap to facilitate the break-up of the UK? "One should not be automatically suspicious" says Alibhai-Brown. Nicola Sturgeon is different from Alex Salmond, she adds, praising the SNP leader as "very appealing" (and as having "beautiful nails").

tweets, external: Just how crumbly is the Palace of Westminster?

@JPonpolitics went through the keyhole

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps has been speaking about a potential Labour/SNP deal after the election. He says such a deal would "mean more debt than our children could ever hope to repay, higher taxes on hardworking people and economic chaos for our country."

He adds: "Ed Miliband and the SNP have signed the pre-nup and are now half-way up the aisle.

"Day after day, vote after vote in Parliament, Ed Miliband would be forced to negotiate with Alex Salmond - the man who tried to break up Britain - about how to run Britain."