Ed Miliband says Labour will not go into coalition with the SNP after the election
Nicola Sturgeon promises the SNP can be a "constructive" force at Westminster for the whole of the UK
UKIP has been added to the list of parties entitled to at least two party election broadcasts, but the Green Party has not
Conservative chairman Grant Shapps faces questions over his outside business interests
Danny Alexander launches a review of business rates aimed at making the system fairer
There are 52 days until the general election
The way Budgets are presented these days leaves "virtually no time for proper deliberation or consultation," Nicola Sturgeon remarks. She says that's a Westminster tradition which dates back to the 17th Century and needs to be "overhauled". It is "closed, top-down and unnecessarily adversarial", she adds.
tweets:, external Scotland FM Nicola Sturgeon piling more pressure on Lab re coalition deals post #ge2015 tackling minority gov issues in #lsescotland speech
"A lack of consultation characterises UK Budget making," says Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. She is giving a lecture at the London School of Economics, ahead of George Osborne's Budget on Wednesday.
Bit more detail on Ofcom's statement. The parties considered "major" are entitled to a minimum of two party broadcasts. They are:
In Great Britain, the Conservative Party; the Labour Party; and the Liberal Democrats
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party
In Wales, Plaid Cymru
In Northern Ireland, the Alliance Party; the Democratic Unionist Party; Sinn Fein; the Social Democratic and Labour Party; and the Ulster Unionist Party
In England and Wales, UKIP.
However, broadcasters must also offer a minimum of one party election broadcast to other parties standing candidates in at least one sixth of seats at the general election - such as the Green Party.
tweets:, external #SNP and @NicolaSturgeon still a big draw in London...another packed hall at #LSE to hear her speak
Image source, PATelecoms regulator Ofcom has released a statement confirming that UKIP is to be considered as a "major party", and as a result will be entitled to a minimum of two party election broadcasts. The Green Party, however, has not made the cut. A spokesman for Ofcom said: "Ofcom has decided that it would not be appropriate to add the Green Party or the Scottish Green Party to the list of major parties on this occasion." The regulator had previously suggested this would be its outcome, but is today confirming its position.
One of the political stories doing the rounds this morning is the Treasury's announcement that there is to be a review of the business rates system in England. The British Retail Consortium's director general Helen Dickinson has welcomed the move, saying the system "acts as a major drag on our economy while punishing our local high street". She said: "With cross-party political support for a fundamental review of business rates I'm confident that we can bring about badly needed change, and in doing so securing the investment, jobs and growth that have been held back by the burden of this pernicious tax."
tweets:, external Ofcom consultation: Ukip qualifies as major party (2 party election broadcasts), Greens don't
tweets:, external Peter Kellner's latest election prediction
Image source, YouGov
Daily Record
In the Daily Record today, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander doesn't rule out a Labour coalition with the SNP, but says his party doesn't "want" one. He writes, external: "The SNP have already said they don't want a coalition with Labour. As Labour, we don't want a coalition with the SNP. The coalition we want is with working people across Britain to change who our economy works for."
The Daily Telegraph
Labour's biggest individual donor's has criticised the party's tuition fee policy and said it will harm the "working classes". John Mills says the plan to cut fees to £6,000 a year - from the current £9,000 - will destabilise British universities and disadvantage "working class children". John Mills told The Daily Telegraph, external there are "redistributive problems" with the idea and warned the policy could hurt Labour's economic credibility.
tweets:, external If Farage saying he couldn't be Ukip leader without seat in Commons, doesn't that narrow choice of successor to MPs? Carswell, Reckless or...?
tweets:, external SNP sources say SNP MPs will not be "a wrecking ball" at Westminster
Image source, PAA bit more from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's interview earlier with ITV's Lorraine Kelly. Asked if it was harder to be a woman in politics than a man, she said: "It is to some extent. Some of the things that are said about women in politics, the way you are characterised, the way you are described, the focus on how you look and what you wear... it is tough." She attacked the Sun newspaper's mock up of her as Miley Cyrus riding a wrecking ball. "That's sexist, there's no doubt about it," she told the breakfast television programme. The SNP leader said the elevation of several women to top positions in Holyrood represents "big progress".
tweets:, external Lib Dems vacate ministerial post in foreign office, give Tim Farron party foreign affairs brief late and then brief he is ignorant. Sweet.
The Times
A leader column in today's Times, external contemplates the future role of the Liberal Democrats, and slates Tim Farron's advice for his party as "spectacularly wrong". Mr Farron hinted at the weekend that the his party should not repeat the decision to form a coalition with the Tories. The Times says that if the Lib Dems were to take this view, "there is, after all, no real point to the Liberal Democrats".
tweets:, external Latest Poll of Polls: Lab: 34%, Tories: 32%, UKIP 15%, Lib Dems 8%, Greens 6% (YouGov, ComRes, MORI, ICM, Angus Reid, Populus)
In other news, teachers in Wales are to be given more support to develop their careers and improve teaching in the classroom. The so-called New Deal will help them to deliver the new "made in Wales curriculum". Each of Wales' 37,600 teachers will be given a learning passport by September to record professional development. Education Minister Huw Lewis said having "high capacity, high skilled professionals" was essential.
Northern Ireland's Finance Minister Simon Hamilton has said no additional money can be allocated to resolve the current impasse over welfare reform. Talks aimed at resolving the stalemate over new welfare legislation are expected to resume at Stormont later. Sinn Féin withdrew its support for the bill last week. Read the full story here.
Image source, AFPFirst Minister Nicola Sturgeon shares a sofa with ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly and says she is "really keen to build progressive alliances across the rest of the UK". This echoes the message of the speech she'll be giving later. On a personal note she says that "politics does come at a cost... you don't see as much of your family as you would like to see".