Labour MP Douglas Alexander has appeared on Sky News and said: "The truth is I think it's clear this morning more than ever, why David Cameron has done everything possible to avoid TV debates."

Leader of the Commons William Hague said the prime minister's performance last night was "very strong". He said: "He got the economic message across from beginning to end and that is the central message in this election."

There are obviously a lot of people giving their opinions on last night's leader's interviews but BBC readers have also got heavily involved. We'll bring you reaction from voters- ie you - today but if you want to get in touch with your opinion of who came off best Cameron/Miliband/Paxman do feel free to send us your thoughts at politics@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @bbcpolitics., external

Image source, PA

Away from the leader's TV grilling for a second, Plaid Cymru's is set to launch its election campaign today. The party's leader Leanne Wood is expected to say that the general election offers Wales an "unprecedented opportunity". She will argue electing the largest ever group of Plaid MPs would put Wales in the "strongest position possible" as polls point to a hung parliament. Full story here.

BBC Breakfast

With six weeks to go until the general election Labour is launching its short campaign today in East London. We'll bring you some details from that later. But BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins tells BBC Breakfast the Labour leader Ed Miliband is likely to claim the race for Number 10 is neck and neck.

He adds of last night's television programme the only thing that was clear really was that "no one lost the election last night". No one made a terrible gaffe, he adds. But at the same time no one won the election either.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

The BBC'c assistant political editor Norman Smith tells the Today programme that although the polls will probably say David Cameron won last night's TV debates, Ed Miliband's people will probably be the most happy with the way in which things turned out.

"Mr Cameron just wanted to get through it in one piece" last night, Mr Smith says.

That's it from us this afternoon folks, and in summary of today I guess you could say "it's been emotional". Tears were held back earlier as the government was narrowly defeated in its attempt to change the rules around electing Speakers. Labour saw the move as trying to oust John Bercow, who was captured glaring defiantly at William Hague when the vote came through in his favour. Stay tuned for the rest of the day, we leave you in the capable hands of Nick Eardley and Sarah Weaver.

Just 11,223 votes across the country could be required to secure a Conservative majority on 7 May, Tory MPs were told in a briefing led by election guru Lynton Crosby. In a packed meeting in Parliament, the MPs were told how it was "basically impossible" for Labour to achieve an overall majority but that the Tories needed to gain just 23 seats. The young volunteers in Team 2015 will play a key role knocking on doors in marginal seats, with the promise of "food, drink and social interaction", a senior source said.

A bit more on news the Lib Dems are facing a police investigation over allegations they received donations in breach of party funding rules.

The Electoral Commission says it passed details of the alleged breaches to the Metropolitan Police as they were potentially a "criminal matter".

The allegations relate to recent reports by The Daily Telegraph and the Channel 4 Dispatches programme.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman says: "When the party was notified of the allegations, we immediately referred them to the Electoral Commission and have fully complied with their inquiries. "We will continue to cooperate with any investigation."

tweets, external : Graham Brady, chair of the Tory 1922 backbench committee, voted against his own government on eve of general election. Now that is historic.

tweets, external: Here are the Tory and Lib Dem MPs who helped defeat the Government over Speaker John Bercow, via @timsculthorpe, external

Image source, Press Association

tweets:, external Andrew Lansley quotes Roosevelt as he says in valedictory speech in Commons:"the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena"

The Electoral Commission says it has referred two allegations the Liberal Democrats received donations in breach of party funding rules to the Metropolitan Police.

tweets:, external Just four Liberal Democrats joined 198 Tories in the aye lobby as they slipped to a 26 vote defeat.

tweets, external : Machiavelli on plotting: “If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.” #Bercow, external

Tweets, external : Losers are often turned into national sweethearts when they're out of power. William Hague screwed that up with his grubby behaviour today

House of Commons
Parliament

Now Sir John Stanley, the MP for Tonbridge and Malling,has served as Conservative MP since 1974.

He has served as a minister and on the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was also Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher during her time as Leader of the Opposition.

House of Commons
Parliament

Dame Tessa Jowell bids goodbye to the Commons.

Labour's former culture secretary is planning to run for mayor of London in 2016.

The MP was first elected to Parliament in 1992; and was a key figure behind the London bid for the 2012 Olympics.

She announced in November 2013 she would stand down as an MP at the 2015 general election.

tweets, external : On #c4news, external tonight, & online very soon. My doorstep with Paxman on whether he's a Tory. Also doorsteps with Kay Burley and my C4 boss