Counting in the Republic of Ireland's election is due to begin at 09:00 local time on Saturday.

London Mayor Boris Johnson clarifies his position on the idea that a vote to leave the EU could force Brussels to give Britain a better deal, saying "out is out".

Here's a round-up of the main stories so far.

• Chancellor George Osborne tells the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg he may have to make further spending cuts in next month's Budget
• Conservative leader David Cameron dismisses claims by his predecessor Lord Howard that an Out vote in June's EU referendum could lead to a fresh renegotiation of the UK's membership
• The prime minister says there are "only two choices" for voters, either to stay or to leave, and to suggest otherwise is a "complete fiction"
• Making the case for leaving the EU, Lord Howard says the UK could prosper outside an "outdated, flawed and failing" organisation
• But Chancellor George Osborne warns that leaving the EU would be an "enormous economic gamble" at a time of global uncertainty
• Green Party leader Natalie Bennett makes the case for the UK to remain in a "fairer, kinder" European Union
• MPs will get a £962 pay rise in April, a 1.3% annual increase

Image source, AP

Chancellor George Osborne has warned he may have to make fresh cuts to public spending in next month's budget.

He told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg that global economic turmoil and slower growth meant "we may need to undertake further reductions".

Mr Osborne slowed the pace of spending cuts in his November spending review.

But recent figures showing the UK economy was smaller than expected meant savings must be found in his Budget statement on 17 March, he said.

Read more here.

Prof Sir Paul Nurse says that research in the UK would suffer if the country decided in the forthcoming referendum to leave the EU.

Labour has responded to news that security company G4S is to sell its children's services business including the contract to manage two secure units - one at the centre of abuse claims. Read more

Image source, PA

The UK should remain in a "fairer, kinder, more sustainable Europe", Green party leader Natalie Bennett has said.

She told a party conference in Harrogate that arguments for staying in the EU were "powerful" and "sensible".

These included free movement of people, which "enriches all of our lives", workers' rights and environmental standards, she said.

Prime Minister David Cameron has called an in-out referendum on the UK's relationship with the EU for 23 June.

Read more

The UK should remain in a "fairer, kinder, more sustainable Europe", Green party leader Natalie Bennett tells a party conference in Harrogate.

BBC Radio 4

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Reality Check

Image source, Getty Images

In politics anything is possible. And it's certain a UK vote to leave would prompt despair in many EU capitals. But for several reasons it seems a second deal and vote would be very unlikely.

First, Number 10 has said the idea is "for the birds". The government has said a vote to leave would be acted upon right away. David Cameron would go to Brussels and invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty that begins a member state's exit from the EU. Leave campaigners say the Prime Minister would not have to do that immediately but that is the government's stated position.

Second, the referendum question would not give David Cameron a mandate to go back to the negotiating table. The choice on the ballot paper is to remain in the EU or leave.

Third, since the UK's renegotiation was agreed in Brussels, key EU figures have ruled out further concessions to the UK. The deal agreed by EU leaders last week explicitly says it is not the basis for further talks if the UK votes to leave:

Having another go

EU member states have repeated referendums in the past; Denmark on the Maastricht Treaty and Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty.

After Denmark first rejected the Treaty, concessions were made, including an opt-out from the euro. Proof, leave campaigners say, that a better deal can be won for the UK.

But there is a difference. Ireland and Denmark's referendums were repeated to enable the EU project to advance. The UK is voting to leave the club. This would undoubtedly cause some anguish in the EU but it would not stop the project moving forward.

Read more of Ben's analysis.

Giles Dilnot
Daily and Sunday Politics reporter

So much is said by the media, their opponents and historians about secretaries of state. Comments are made about them as politicians, their policies, their personalities.

However, it’s only a small group of people who actually know what the role is really about and they are those who’ve done it. 

As part of my series “So you want to be a secretary of state”, I’ve been talking to eight politicians who have been handed the education brief.

Of all the offices of state this is the one that has changed most in the last decades. 

This is also the department that produced the only secretary of state who ever resigned whilst saying they weren’t good enough at the job. She tells me what she meant.

Ellie Price
Daily and Sunday Politics reporter

“Stop banging on about Europe", David Cameron once cried, a long time ago. In fact, it seems like a very long time ago now.

But he may have been on to something. Are you yawning over Europe? Bored of Brexit?

Here’s a round-up of some other stuff that’s happened in the big wide world of politics this week….

House of Commons
Parliament

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis pays tribute to Andrew Gwynne's "energetic" campaign for his residents.

Mr Lewis says local authorities must always provide appropriate infrastructure but affirms that "green infrastructure", such as trees and green spaces, play a vital role in place-making.

Former Tory leader Lord Howard has resurrected the idea of a second referendum if the UK votes to leave - but how realistic is it?

Leaving the EU would put 100,000 jobs in Wales at risk, Prime Minister David Cameron claims on a visit to a factory in south Wales.

Lord Howard, David Cameron's predecessor as Conservative Party leader, has joined the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.