James Tapsfield, Press Associationpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Please, please, let Marr ask Soubry about her infamous "finger" jibe about Farage...
Summary
Conservative candidate suspended over claims he schemed with the English Defence League to win votes
Nigel Farage says he'll be "utterly ruthless" with UKIP election candidates who "step over the line"
Alex Salmond backs a vote-by-vote arrangement with Labour if there is a hung parliament
A deal is reached over the television election debates
There are 46 days until the general election
James Tapsfield, Press Associationpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
Future of politicspublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
The Andrew Marr ShowGloria de Piero says there is a crisis in politics. She's been travelling the country finding out what people think of politicians. Ms Soubry says both of them have done other things before they entered politics - that's really important, she adds. She takes the opportunity for a bit of a dig at Nigel Farage, whom she says has been a career politician "for decades".
'It's getting better'published at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
The Andrew Marr ShowWe've made difficult decisions and it has been tough, Conservative Ms Soubry says. But she insists that people have been telling her, when she's been out campaigning, that things are getting better.
Tom Newton Dunn, Sun political editorpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Great telly to have @Anna_SoubryMP and @GloriaDePiero sparring on the #Marr paper review. Two of their parties' best performers.
Budget analysispublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
The Andrew Marr ShowOn the Budget, Ms de Piero says Wednesday's speech was not a "game changer". She tells Andrew Marr she wants a chancellor who'll stand up and say "people are still hurting". She adds that the cuts that are coming under Tory plans are "savage".
Ms Soubry says, perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a very good Budget.
Beth Rigby, FT's deputy political editorpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external The MoS splash on EDL/Tory PPC allegations a gift to Farage - sure he'll make the most of it when he appears on #marr
James Tapsfield, Press Associationpublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Anna Soubry says Afzal Amin shd "fess up" & go if allegs true, but notes that sometimes candidates get "a bit carried away" #marr
George Eaton, political editor, New Statesmanpublished at 09:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Dudley North (where Afzal Amin was standing) is Tories' no.9 target seat by vote share. That majority isn't getting any easier...
Paperspublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
The Andrew Marr ShowAnna Soubry, the Tory defence minister, and Labour's shadow minister for women and equalities Gloria de Piero are both reviewing this morning's newspapers.
Ms de Piero, talking about the Mail on Sunday splash, says the idea anyone would do a deal with the EDL is astonishing.
Ms Soubry says that if the story is true, it's "dreadful". She highlights that Afzal Amin has denied the story, but calls on him to go now if there is any truth in the story.
Coming uppublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
The Andrew Marr Show
This morning's main men.
The Andrew Marr Showpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Good Morning! We are live now on @BBCOne. Our newspaper review is with @Anna_SoubryMP and @GloriaDePiero. #marr #marrshow
Sunday pollspublished at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
Three polls out this morning paint a mixed picture of whether Conservative hopes of a post-Budget bounce have materialised.
An Opinium survey for the Observer puts the party up three points on 36%, with Labour down two on 33%. UKIP and the Liberal Democrats are both unchanged on 14% and 7% respectively.
But a Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday shows the Conservatives on 30%, still trailing Ed Miliband's party by four points, with both gaining one over the past month. UKIP are down two on 17% and the Lib Dems remain at 10%.
A further survey by YouGov for the Sunday Times found Labour has gained two points at the Tories' expense, and now lead by 35% to 33%. UKIP are up one on 14% and the Lib Dems are unchanged on 8%.
Alberto Nardelli, Guardian data editorpublished at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Latest @guardian projection - CON 276, LAB 270, SNP 53. As things stand, LAB/SNP have the numbers Read more., external
Select committeespublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
Do select committees at Westminster have too much power? Tom Shakespeare has been looking at the issue this morning in the light of the recent "cash-for-access" scandal. You can read his analysis here.
John Pienaarpublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets, external: On Pienaar's Politics at 10am, I'll be joined by former Scottish first minister @AlexSalmond and Scottish Labour leader @JimForScotland
Sunday paperspublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
With just a few weeks until the election, plenty of the Sunday papers run with political stories this morning. The Mail on Sunday splashes with the story about Afzal Amin - who has been suspended from the Conservatives over allegations he schemed with the English Defence League to win votes. The Sunday Times writes that the Tories are to revive Thatcher's right-to-buy scheme. And the Sunday Telegraph reports an ex-minister is to lead the fight against defence cuts.
Andy Sully has more in the newspaper review.
Sunday Politicspublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
Image source, PAOn Sunday Politics from 11:00 GMT, Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb will be discussing the Budget and mental health. Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy - whose party is facing an uphill battle to retain most of their seats north of the border according to recent polls - will also be on the programme.
May2015, New Statesman election sitepublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external ComRes poll—Only 32% of Ukip councillors want the party to stay neutral after May. 60% want them to back Tories. (111 surveyed out of 363)
YouGov, polling firmpublished at 08:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
tweets:, external Update: Lab lead at 2 - Latest YouGov / Sunday Times results 20th Mar - Con33%, Lab35%, LD8%, UKIP14%, GRN5%; APP -14 Read more., external
Andrew Marrpublished at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2015
Image source, PAThis morning, we've got UKIP leader Nigel Farage and former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond on the Andrew Marr Show. Both men are hoping to become MPs on 7 May, but have also launched side careers as authors recently. Mr Farage released The Purple Revolution earlier this month, while Mr Salmond released The Dream Shall Never Die, his account of the independence referendum campaign, last week. Will either book get a mention?