Summary

  • Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says the UK and Russia will continue to have a "prickly relationship" if there is no clear change in Vladimir Putin's intentions towards Ukraine

  • Mr Hammond refuses to commit to meeting Nato's target of 2% of GDP being spent on defence if the Conservatives win in May

  • Ed Miliband says he would pass a law guaranteeing TV debates in all future general elections

  • Labour candidate Lesley Brennan turns down a £1,000 donation to her campaign from Tony Blair

  • Reports suggest the government is considering banning radical Islamists from working unsupervised with children

  • There are 60 days until the general election

Live Reporting

Nick Eardley and Victoria King

  1. Ukraine crisis

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

    An attack on Mariupol would see increased pressure on Russia, Philip Hammond says. But he won't be drawn on whether it would mean a new cold war.

  2. Hammond on Marr

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Philip Hammond MP, the foreign secretary, says there has been a reduction in violence in Ukraine, but he doesn't detect that President Putin's strategy has changed. It's now about which tools he uses to meet his objectives. Any more aggression will see increased sanctions, which Mr Hammond says are "significant" and "really hurting" Russia.

  4. Passionate politics

    The Andrew Marr Show

    There is a danger in rhetoric and passion, but it is important to believe what you say and encourage dialogue, Michael Sheen says. If you want to watch Mr Sheen's rousing speech on the NHS last week, here it is.

  5. Sheen on the NHS

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Michael Sheen says there has been a "systematic undermining" of the core values of the NHS - by both the coalition and Labour - in recent years.

  6. Isabel Hardman, assistant editor, the Spectator

    tweets: If you're into politicians dodging questions, Caroline Flint's performance just then on Marr was v.good as she avoided ruling out SNP pact.

  7. David Singleton, news editor, PoliticsHome

    tweets: Caroline Flint refuses to rule out Labour-SNP deal on Marr. Three times.

  8. George Eaton, political editor, New Statesman

    tweets: Impressively fluent performance by Flint there under some tough questioning. #Marr

  9. Sheen on Marr

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Michael Sheen is now talking to Andrew Marr about his work as a UNICEF ambassador. He says violence against children often happens in the home and other places where kids should be safe. Mr Sheen wants more of a focus on the issue and talks about his recent visit to Guatemala.

  10. Nicholas Watt, the Guardian

    tweets: We do not want, we do not need + we are not planning coalition with @theSNP which is not social conscience of @UKLabour - @CarolineFlintMP

  11. Labour deal?

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Could Labour do a deal with the SNP, Andrew Marr asks? In reply, Caroline Flint swerves and lists her party's policies instead. Labour is the party of equality, she says, and she won't take lectures from the SNP on that.

  12. SNP in power?

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Caroline Flint says her party is focussed on winning a majority - but she won't rule out a deal with the SNP. She repeats much of what Ed Miliband said yesterday at the Scottish Labour conference - votes for the SNP make a Tory government more likely.

  13. Tax plans

    The Andrew Marr Show

    What if George Osborne is planning a tax cut bonanza before the election? Caroline Flint says the government is guilty of giving with one hand and taking away with the other. Just 60 days before the election, many promises will be uncosted, she says. Ms Flint won't commit to backing Mr Osborne over an increase in the income tax threshold until she sees the plan.

  14. Green credentials

    The Andrew Marr Show

    On climate change, Caroline Flint - who also speaks on the subject for Labour - says there needs to be more investment in clean energy. The rate at the moment is just half of what it should be. We need to have a de-carb target, give the green investment bank powers to borrow and follow Labour's policy of issuing "green bonds", she says.

  15. Alberto Nardelli, data editor at the @Guardian

    tweets: 60 days to the election - latest @guardian projection: CON 274 seats, LAB 271, SNP 52, LDEM 27

  16. 'No real recovery'

    The Andrew Marr Show

    "Ordinary working people do not feel they are benefitting from this recovery," Caroline Flint says. That isn't a real recovery, she adds.

  17. Cost of living

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Caroline Flint says working people are worse off - not better - than before the financial crisis. Families are given opportunities with one hand, but other costs are imposed in other ways. Families, she adds, will be £1,000 worse off at the end of this Parliament.

  18. 'No fines'

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Companies wouldn't be fined because the regulator would force energy companies to freeze prices, Caroline Flint insists. People need to have confidence in the market, she adds.

  19. 'Fall under a freeze'

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint

    Caroline Flint says Labour has said from day one bills could be cut under their energy price freeze policy. We need to reform the market to make sure people feel they are paying a fair bill, she says.

  20. Flint on Marr

    The Andrew Marr Show

    Caroline Flint, the shadow energy secretary, says the big six energy firms could continue under a Labour government, but she wants there to be more companies. It's not about numbers though, she says, but about getting people the best deal.