BBC Radio 4

Image source, MOD

Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth told the World at One a short time ago that there was a growing campaign "not just for 2%, but for 2% to be the minimum" (of GDP spent on defence). "This is a dangerous world," he said, citing Russia, Iran and China as just some of the threats. "Defence is an insurance policy and we need to make sure that insurance policy is up to scratch."

Image source, PA

During the question and answer session after his speech earlier, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was asked for his view on the prospect of a Labour-SNP coalition. "Our view is that, in the same way we would not countenance putting Ukip in charge of the EU, we would not countenance putting the SNP in charge of a country that they want to rip apart. It's as simple as that."

BBC Radio 4

Asked if he is acting as a blocker to George Osborne's Budget plans, Vince Cable says: "There's a negotiating process. I've put in my list of suggestions about things I would like to invest in... and other ministers have no doubt done the same." After that somewhat equivocal answer, Mr Cable goes on to be more categorical: "We can't have a big giveaway Budget, nobody would believe it was credible. We have got to be restrained in what we do." He says there might be "some pleasant surprises", but now isn't the time for "big tax cuts or spending cuts".

BBC Radio 4

Image source, AFP

Business Secretary Vince Cable tells the World at One the UK is still "badly behind our competitor countries" in terms of engineering and digital skills. Mr Cable says we are going to have to invest more in apprenticeships, but not - as the Conservatives want to do - by taking money away from young people on benefits. The business secretary says he wants to create incentives for companies to do the investing, particularly small and medium-sized firms who, at present, do very little skills training.

The former Chief of the Defence Staff, Lord Bramall, has emphatically denied any involvement with a paedophile ring that's alleged to have operated in Britain's highest circles in the 1970s and 80s. Lord Bramall - one of Britain's most decorated soldiers - told the BBC he was "mystified" when police raided his home in Surrey. Lord Bramall, who is 91, told home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds: "Categorically, never have I had a connection or anything to do with the matters being investigated. It is not in my character or my psyche." Lord Bramall has not been arrested, named as a suspect by police or questioned.

BBC Radio 4

Image source, PA

The government has been urged to increase the provision of apprenticeships after MPs warned the number of youngsters involved remained too low. Graham Stuart, chairman of the Education Select Committee, tells the World at One: "The government has done a great job, but it's still not enough. When someone does train for a long time at relatively low pay the bargain is that their income should be transformed at the end." He says that if a training position doesn't "lead to an income transformation" it shouldn't qualify as a proper apprenticeship

BBC Radio 4

Prof Sir Malcolm Chalmers, from the Royal United Services Institute, tells the World at One he thinks it is "unrealistic" to expect 2% of GDP to go on defence, because that puts defence higher than health, education and other key priorities. He continues: "I think there will be a significant reputational cost for the UK if and when it falls below 2%. That will be particularly with the United States." Prof Chalmers thinks there's a tough conversation looming between the UK prime minister and President Barack Obama.

Jeffrey Donaldson has told BBC Talkback that if Sinn Fein block the Welfare Reform Bill, it'll have "massive consequences" for the politics of Northern Ireland. He said: "If they block the Welfare Reform Bill then I am bound to say they are reneging on the Stormont House Agreement. If that happens we are in very, very troubled waters."

The SNP has reacted to the Conservatives' latest poster - featuring Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond's pocket (see 07:50 entry below). Scottish Government minister Humza Yousaf said: "It's clear that the establishment is utterly rocked at the prospect of Scotland having a voice. The more and more the prime minister talks about the SNP, and talks down the SNP, it will only increase our support in Scotland. In fact, I'll pay his bus fare to come up if he wants."

The Guardian

"Scaremongering, but evidence-based scaremongering," that's the view of Andrew Sparrow, from the Guardian,, external on Ed Balls' speech. He says that while "it is fashionable to knock negative campaigning... in principle, there should be nothing wrong with it". He goes on: "First, if you think your opponents plans really would be disastrous, you should be entitled to say so. And second, there is plenty of evidence it works."

Daily Politics
Live on BBC Two

On Daily Politics, Conservative MP Charles Walker has been asked by host Jo Coburn about whether he agrees with ringfencing of the NHS budget.

He said: "You could argue that there should be parts of the economy that are not ringfenced - everything should be opened up for review - but that argument has happened and the view is that ringfencing needs to happen for the NHS."

Asked if agreed with that view, Mr Walker said: "It is an extremely difficult argument. I think that ringfences create a great deal of pressure in other places and it's an argument that's going to continue... I'm not sure that I do agree with it... I'm not sure I do agree with it."

tweets, external: Clegg says he spent all day Saturday signing off the Lib Dem manifesto which will go before party's Spring Conf this weekend

BBC News Channel

And it's Labour's Scottish woes that dominate the opening exchanges of Campaign Countdown Review, with Buzzfeed's Emily Ashton telling the News Channel: "The election campaign really seems to have kicked off today - you've got this big advert released by the Conservatives, a big shot of Alex Salmond and Ed Miliband in his pocket... And really the idea behind that is to say to people thinking about voting Labour, 'do you really want Alex Salmond pulling the strings of this government?'"

BBC News Channel

Campaign Countdown Review is about to start on the BBC News Channel (watch using the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page). They'll be discussing what's in store for the week ahead - including Labour's Scotland woes, the unexpectedly cheerful Lib Dems, and what happens when Parliament is dissolved - with Buzzfeed's Emily Ashton and Charlotte Henry from City AM.

tweets, external: Nice posters from the Tories today. It would be a great shame if someone spoofed them...

Image source, Twitter

BBC News Channel

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps comes out fighting in an interview with the BBC News Channel: "The speech today by Ed Balls shows they (Labour) haven't got a clue... They are making up numbers, making up accusations that make Ed Balls look like a farce."

Here's some more from Mr Clegg as he and Mr Cable unveil Liberal Democrat plans for science, innovation and industry, at an event in East London: "Businesses need stability, we must not take that for granted. That is why the Liberal Democrats will borrow less than Labour and cut less than the Conservatives."

Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is delivering a speech alongside Business Secretary Vince Cable. Mr Clegg says the last thing the UK needs is "a lurch to the left or the right".

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness says the new row over welfare reform presents the potential of a "very serious crisis" for Stormont. He said welfare is a 'red-line issue' for Sinn Fein and that the DUP- its partners in government - have acted in bad faith. Mr McGuinness said the disagreement presents problems not just for the welfare agreement but for the future of the devolved institutions.

In response to Ed Balls' speech, Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander says: "Both Labour and the Conservatives are saying they will lurch away from the centre ground. Labour will borrow too much and the Conservatives will cut too much. The Liberal Democrats have been the rock of financial stability during this recovery."