tweets:, external Nigel Farage tells #homesforbritain tackling immigration to stop "inexorable" population rise is an unspoken key to solving housing crisis.

Two prominent Labour MPs have called for police and intelligence officers who give evidence on an alleged Westminster paedophile ring to be protected from prosecution. Tom Watson and Simon Danczuk have said the prime minister must guarantee officers that will not face charges under the Official Secrets Act if they help the inquiry into the Met Police. More here.

tweets:, external Interesting in @LordAshcroft latest constituency polls: Ukip % down in all the seats polled

Tweets, external: Kudos to @Nigel_Farage for turning up to speak to #homesforbritain - I wonder if any other party leaders will?

Image source, Tim Montgomery

The Homes for Britain rally , externalis under way at Methodist Central Hall in London. Nigel Farage is expected to be the first speaker.

Coming up this evening is the next episode of BBC3's Free Speech series, in which young voters quiz party leaders. Tonight it's the turn of the "kingmakers" - the Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru, whose leaders may end up deciding who eventually becomes prime minister. The full hour of unscripted tough and uncensored questions gets under way at 20:00.

tweets:, external Budget measures are agreed within coalition, but Osborne need not consult on how he uses speech as platform to set out future Tory plans.

House of Commons
Parliament

And here's the result: 276 for the government, 209 for the opposition. "One more heave," one backbencher is heard to say after the result.

House of Commons
Parliament

The government amendment to the Modern Slavery Bill overturns a Lords defeat by seeking to allow overseas domestic workers to change employer after their arrival in the UK and extend their visa for up to a year at the time of work. But it's been sharply criticised by some MPs. Fiona MacTaggart says the amendment "infantilises the victim" and that peers had proposed "a better way" of "protecting these vulnerable victims". The result is expected shortly.

House of Lords
Parliament

A number of disabled peers are calling for the government to enforce rules that ban taxis from charging extra to carry wheelchair users during today's oral questions.

Crossbench peer Baroness Grey-Thompson asks, "don't disabled people deserve the same rights to access public transport as everybody else?"

Recent investigations, external carried out by Labour MP for Dudley Ian Austin have found that taxi firms in Nottingham, Hull, Middlesbrough and a number of other areas have all been overcharging to passengers with wheelchairs.

House of Commons
Parliament

Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing asks MPs to accept or reject Lords Amendment 72 to the Modern Slavery Bill.

There's no clear winner from the oral vote so a division is called, and MPs leave the chamber to vote in the division lobbies.

The result is expected at 15.05 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been nearly a week since the Guardian, Telegraph and YouTube intervened in the TV debates deadlock by offering to move their Digital Debate forwards to March 26th or 27th - next week. With the clock ticking the consortium has again written to David Cameron, quoting his BuzzFeed interview in which he said: "Everyone's got to agree to it but I've said very clearly - multi-party debate before the campaign, where do I sign?" The signatories write: "The timescale for making a debate happen next week is compressed, but it is just possible if you commit to taking part. We would urge you to do so as soon as possible."

BBC Radio 5 live

Earlier Nigel Farage told the BBC's Daily Politics that people could opt out of the NHS and use private insurance if they can afford it. He elaborated on BBC Radio 5 Live, arguing that a small minority who can pay the bills should "relieve the pressure on the health service for everybody else" by choosing private healthcare. The UKIP leader repeatedly insisted that this isn't something well-off people "should" do. But he said it might be an option to consider and was happy to admit doing so would be costly to the middle-classes. "The better off would be paying twice," Mr Farage added. "They'll be paying once through general taxation into the NHS and secondly for their own private cover."

Image source, Science Photo Library

More than in any previous election, Dr Paul Bernal argues on Politics.co.uk, external, the political parties are going to be desperate to get hold of information about voters. It's why they've been so active in trying to find out about your online activities, he argues. "Questionnaires, seemingly neutral, non-party political campaigns and many other methods are used by all the parties," Dr Bernal writes. "This is of course governed by the Data Protection Law, but the level of enforcement and the seriousness with which that law is taken is another matter." He says the role of big data in election campaigns is only going to increase. "This is something," he urges, "that at the very least we should be aware of."

tweets:, external Labour close blinds on HQ windows as contenders start turning up for special selections panel due to choose short-list for Halifax

Image source, AP

In Holyrood, MSPs are taking a controversial step today: they're effectively going to vote down a £6,000 pay rise. Their pay is supposed to be 87.5% of MPs' in Westminster. After MPs gave expenses watchdog Ipsa authority to set their pay - and Ipsa recommended a pay rise after 2015 - Scottish MSPs' salaries were going to increase too - until today's vote stops it. Instead they'll peg their pay packets to inflation, in line with the rest of the public sector. More here.

Occasions like the pre-election Budget always attract the attention of all and sundry - and the gambling world is no exception. Betfair is offering a number of markets which promise to liven up watching George Osborne's statement tomorrow lunchtime. Betting opportunities cover the colour of his tie, whether he uses the phrase "Balls up" (50/1) and the possibility of an MP falling asleep (5/2 on). "If fans can nap at an Arsenal game, an MP could surely take a snooze during an hour long talk about long-term economic plans and austerity," Betfair says.

tweets:, external @Nigel_Farage says UKIP is Not supporting a ban on non-stun slaughter of animals by Halal/kosher abattoirs. UKIP's website says the opposite

The amazing #homesforbritain #relaytotherally participants just before the finish line

Image source, Twitter

BBC Radio 4

Image source, PA

Ken Clarke's interview with Peter Hennessy is now airing on BBC Radio 4 in today's edition of "When The People Say Not Sure". He's been around the block a few times - and was even a whip in 1974 when Edward Heath formed a coalition. Over the years he's found that personalities rather than rules are usually the decisive factor. "It entirely depends on the personal reactions of the leading figures concerned," he says. "The British constitution has conventions but it has no rigid rules… the individual political leaders and the entourage react to the situation they find themselves in." Here's our story about his comments on the Fixed Term Parliament Act.