George Galloway says if Prince Charles's letters are "merely opining on state of British architecture" or similar issues then he can see no problem for the Prince but, Mr Galloway told Any Questions that, if it turns out Charles has been lobbying for changes in policy on "rather more smaller matters" then that "will be embarrassing" - for the Prince and for the ministers who were lobbied.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Prince Charles had written to him and had taken a particular interest in military charities. The prince was "perfectly entitled" to give advice to the Queen's ministers, he said, adding: "We should not be grudging him that role at all".

The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Rachel Reeves, said the publication of the letters was in the "national interest". She said: "I think it's fine for the letters to be made public and Prince Charles has said that as well...I don't think there's any harm about knowing what he is lobbying for."

Image source, Getty Images

According to Rachel Reeves, Prince Charles "should be able to write to whoever he likes about whatever he likes".

Speaking on Any Questions, the Labour MP and shadow work and pensions secretary added: "I don't think there's any harm in knowing what he is lobbying for."

Image source, PA

The Lib Dems have put out a statement in response to the BBC story detailing leaked documents showing Conservative options for welfare cuts.

Lib Dem campaign spokesperson Lord Scriven said: “The election campaign has barely kicked off and already the Tories are showing their true colours. “To build a stronger economy and a fairer society, the welfare system should be designed to help people get on in life. But, surprise, surprise the Tories are hell-bent on punishing disabled people and working families with crippling welfare cuts.”

Image source, Liberal Democrats

Asked if a vote for UKIP was actually a vote for Labour or the SNP, UKIP MEP Patrick O'Flynn told the Any Questions audience a vote for Labour was "asking working people to vote against their own economic interests".

Image source, PA

Channel 4

Green MP Caroline Lucas has called on the 46 MPs identified by Channel 4 News as allegedly claiming for rent or hotel expenses in London while owning properties in the capital to repay the money.

Ms Lucas told Channel 4 News it was "wrong" that MPs could make profits off properties that had been purchased with the help of expenses. She said when the properties were sold "a substantial proportion" of the profit should "go back to the taxpayer".

Image source, Getty Images

Responding to the leaked documents detailing options for welfare cuts, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told Radio 4's Any Answers these are "not party proposals, but options" adding "but the welfare state cannot be exempted" to get the deficit under control.

The IFS has published its analysis, external of the impact on the public finances of the possible leaked welfare cuts under consideration by the Conservatives. The think tank notes "It is not clear whether any of these reforms will become Conservative Party policy. All we know is that ministers have been discussing possible options with civil servants," and has published this helpful table detailing the revenues from each of the potential reforms reported today.

Image source, IFS Green Budget 2015

A Number 10 spokesman said: "Neither the Chancellor nor the Prime Minister have seen the documents quoted tonight in Michael Buchanan's report.

"The first they were aware of them was when contacted by the BBC this afternoon."

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Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, the Conservative MP, says the armed forces "will have the equipment and resources they need" and that Britain has the "fifth biggest defence budget in the world".

Image source, PA

Respect MP George Galloway says David Cameron was "inept" in saying that he would not stay for a third term in office as Prime Minister if the Conservatives were returned to power.

UKIP's spokesman on Economic Affairs, Patrick O Flynn MEP says it was "presumptious" and would undermine his authority.

But overwhelmingly, the Any Questions audience agreed it was right that the Prime Minister had given an honest answer and also that it was a "got-up story by the media".

Image source, PA

Channel 4

Channel 4 News is leading on a story, external about MPs allegedly playing the expenses system to profit from owning homes in London - homes originally bought with taxpayer-funded mortgages.

Under the old expenses system, MPs were allowed to claim for mortgage payments. But after the expenses scandal, these claims were no longer allowed. Channel 4 News says it has details of 46 MPs who, when the rules changed, rented out their London properties - in some cases for up to £3,000 a month - and claimed expenses for rent and hotels in the capital.

From 20:00 GMT Jonathan Dimbleby presents political debate and discussion on Any Questions. Tonight, the programme comes from Hill House School in Doncaster and includes the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon MP, Respect MP George Galloway, UKIP's spokesman on Economic Affairs, Patrick O'Flynn MEP and the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rachel Reeves MP.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves comments on leaked documents of possible benefit cuts seen by the BBC: “These plans to hit the disabled and carers were drawn up for Conservative ministers to deliver their extreme cuts plan."

She adds: "The Tories now need to come clean about what cuts they plan to make and who will pay the price. If they are ruling out these extreme cuts for the most disabled and carers, then it is clear they will be hitting the tax credits, and support for children, for millions of working families."

The Conservatives say the documents are not party policy.

As Labour unveil their plans for a cap on profits private sector can make in the NHS, Cathy Corrie writes in the New Statesman, external that the biggest risk to the NHS is failure to reform fast enough. She writes: "Getting value for money from the NHS is the only sustainable option", adding that the next government should "be deeply concerned by the news that the NHS is not moving far or fast enough", concluding "NHS reform is surely good politics".

Image source, Science Photo Library

For the Conservatives, Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey now owned Mr Miliband "lock, stock and barrel". "He bungs the cash, calls the shots and Miliband dances to his tune," he said.

"And that ruinous tune means more spending, more borrowing and Britain back to bankruptcy."

The BBC has seen a leaked document showing options for cutting benefits , apparently drawn up by civil servants at the request of Conservative Party officials. The Tories say the proposals are not party policy and the story amounts to "ill-informed and inaccurate speculation".

The documents, from the Department for Work and Pensions and seen by correspondent Michael Buchanan, suggest a regional benefits cap, taxing disability benefits and reducing eligibility for the carers' allowance.

The proposals are aimed at helping to save £12bn from the welfare budget by 2017-18.

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