BBC News Channel

Robin Tilbrook of the English Democrats has been speaking about the difference between his party and UKIP. Asked whether his policies are the same as Nigel Farage's party he said he "didn't know about that" and described Mr Farage as having torn up his own party's manifesto in a "fit of pique".

Mr Tilbrook went on to set out the English Democrats' hopes for the election: "I don't think we will win a seat to be fair, we're not aiming to do that what we are aiming to do is to fly the flag for England."

Image source, Getty Images

Stewart Hosie MP has labelled John Major's comments on a potential Labour/SNP deal after the election as "embarrassing" for Labour.

The SNP Deputy leader said in a statement: "For a former Tory prime minister to tell Labour what to do on the eve of their conference in Scotland is hugely embarrassing for Jim Murphy.

"John Major wants the Tories to be re-elected in May, and therefore he wants Labour to rule out an agreement with the SNP, because that would stop the Tories. There are no circumstances in which the SNP would put the Tories into government - the question is if Labour have the same commitment, with a number of senior Labour figures promoting voting Tory in Scotland, and even the idea of a 'grand alliance' between the Tories and Labour.

"A strong team of SNP MPs elected in May means a powerful voice for Scotland - and that is really what the Westminster establishment, Labour and Tory, are really scared of."

BBC News Channel

Green MEP Molly Scott Cato has just been setting the Greens' electoral ambitions. She told the BBC's Eleanor Garnier electoral success would mean holding former leader Caroline Lucas's Brighton Pavillion seat and gaining Bristol West

She said the now notorious Natalie Bennett LBC interview was just a case of the leader having an "off day", which no one outside Westminster is talking about. And she suggested the media now moves on.

Another politician has been caught playing on their tablet during a meeting. Lib Dem councillor Martin Elengorn was snapped by a Tory rival playing a sneaky game of Scrabble during a town hall meeting in Richmond, South London, reports the Evening Standard, external. The incident has put him off the game for life, apparently.

The Scotsman

According to today's Scotsman, there is a row in Scottish Labour over where to concentrate resources ahead of the election. The paper says several MPs have "demanded" the party gives up on trying to save the west of Scotland, with one even saying they should abandon Glasgow - previously a hot bed of Labour support, but which voted in favour of independence at the referendum. This comes after a poll suggested Labour could lose most of its seat north of the border. More here, external.

You Tube

For those looking for something to make their Friday lunchtime go with a swing, here's UKIP candidate for Stockton Mandy Boylett singing her cover version of Abba's Chiquitita, external, with rewritten lyrics tackling the government's record on immigration and criticising her electoral opponent, Labour MP Alex Cunningham.

All together now...

tweets, external: .@TheGreenParty welcomes over 1,300 attendees to @ACCLiverpool for the Party's largest ever Conference. #gpconf

AND

tweets, external: .@TheGreenParty membership stands at almost 56,000 #gpconf #GreenSurge

The Daily Telegraph

More on immigration, with the Telegraph, external reporting that population increases fuelled by immigration have helped to contribute to cuts of almost 50 per cent cut in council services in parts of the country.

The paper cites IFS analysis that shows councils which had big influxes of immigrants were among those hit the hardest by cuts to local authority budgets.

tweets, external: Nigel Farage's response, external to the woman who called him the Messiah is hilarious!

Amid all the calls for Ed Miliband to rule out a coalition with the SNP, an alternative take on politics.co.uk, external. The piece argues that ignoring SNP electoral success would push Westminster further from Scotland, whereas Ed Miliband and Sturgeon arm-in-arm would send a powerful "better together" message.

tweets, external: "The vision I've got for Wales is one where no individual is left behind & more autonomy is how we can achieve that" Leanne tells students

Image source, PA

More comment on a possible Labour/SNP coalition from Phil Collins in today's Times (subscription required).

He writes, external: "Give or take a few Lib Dem seats, the rise and fall of the SNP and Labour is a zero-sum game. The SNP hurts Labour and benefits the Conservatives. This is a split in the left that will surpass the damage that UKIP can do to the Conservatives south of the border."

He calls for Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy to, therefore, rule out a coalition with the SNP.

Image source, PA

Ed Miliband is to set out his party's offer to pensioners at a campaign event in Yorkshire later today.

The Labour leader will pledge to maintain the 'triple lock' on the state pension and guarantee free bus passes and free TV licences to all those currently eligible. But he will say he will take away winter fuel payments from the richest five per cent of pensioners.

More here.

The Daily Telegraph

Image source, PA

Today's Telegraph, external may make reassuring reading for Green party leader Natalie Bennett, ahead of her party conference speech this afternoon.

Although the paper reports some knives out for Ms Bennett among the membership, following her performance during 'that' LBC interview, the piece says the numbers dissatisfied are not enough for any move against her as leader. A petition of ten per cent of the membership is required to trigger a leadership election.

We will be covering Natalie Bennett's speech here around 14:00 GMT.

Image source, PA

Plaid Cymru is holding its conference in Caernarfon today. In her speech - expected early this afternoon - party leader Leanne Wood will urge the "Westminster parties" to promise Wales an extra £1.2bn a year. You can follow the proceedings here.

The Local Government Association has been responding to the government's announcement that drivers will get 10 minutes' grace before being fined if they stay too long in council-owned car parks in England. Cllr David Sparks, the body's chair, says many councils already allow grace periods.

He adds: "We are concerned that government has rushed through today's announcement and failed to fully consult councils on the detail of the regulation. Beyond the headlines, what is particularly worrying is the detail of these proposals which could make roads less safe for vulnerable pedestrians and inconvenience millions of motorists and commuters.

"We have serious concerns about the decision to ban the use of CCTV on zebra crossings and bus routes. This decision could endanger vulnerable road users such as children, blind or disabled people and create delays for millions of bus users."

A bit more from Nigel Farage on the tone of the election campaign.

The UKIP leader has ruled out making personal attacks on his opponents for the duration of the campaign and blamed the influence of American advisers for what he predicted would be the most negative contest ever.

Mr Farage laid blame for the tone on "Washington spin doctors" - the Conservatives' Jim Messina and Labour's David Axelrod.

"What I'm seeing in this election is the influence of these big American advisers and it's becoming the most negative, personal and nasty campaign I've ever seen," he said.

The UKIP leader hit out at criticism of his Labour counterpart, telling LBC radio: "I don't agree with what most of Ed Miliband stands for but he's a perfectly decent human being.

"For him to be attacked personally day after day after day - how is that taking us forward? I'm going to do my best over the next 60-odd days to rise above it."

tweets, external: Green conference doc: policy to ban almost all cars "would probably prove unattractive to the electorate"

Chris Mason
Political correspondent, BBC News

There is recognition at Westminster - across the political divide - that immigration really matters to millions of people, our correspondent says. You only have to flick through the literature the party have been churning out to really get a sense of how important immigration is, he adds.

"We had a massive PR problem with our 2010 manifesto", Nigel Farage admits on LBC. "A 12 page document that was put to me and signed off was fine. Behind it were 486 pages of detailed notes then deemed to be the manifesto." He says much of the content was "intellectual wonderings" and accuses other of playing "academic games".