Another little snippet just spotted in the papers. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the prime minister is going to be joined by her husband, Philip, on The One Show sofa in the run-up to the election. 

Mr May has generally kept a low public profile during his wife's Westminster career, so the joint interview would be a bold step.

"The decision is an election gamble, with questions about their private life in Number 10 expected to dominate rather than a political grilling," writes the paper.

"However, with a viewership of millions, the electoral advantages are clear."

Image source, PA

The Observer is sure the Conservatives are heading towards a "national landslide" on 8 June, but has some stern words for Theresa May, especially when it comes to Brexit., external

She may be "a canny winner", but she needs to show she is also "a responsible leader", it writes, and "stop dancing to the ignorantly chauvinistic, jingoistic tune of the discredited Eurosceptic right".

The first step, it suggests, would be unilaterally guaranteeing the rights on EU citizens in the UK - a second would be admitting there are "billions of pounds owing" to the EU when the country leaves.

The Sunday Telegraph has a more domestic focus to its advice for Mrs May., external Drawing comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, the paper says it's clear the "majority" of the country is on board with "her goal of reviving national sovereignty and rejecting spin", but she must not forget people's "material aspirations" too.

Mrs May must "add some Eighties-style aspirational conservatism to her agenda, and remember that only capitalism can drive the rise in living standards that this new army of Tory voters rightly wants", the Telegraph concludes.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's take a look around some of Sunday's papers. 

The Sunday Mirror, external - a staunch Labour supporter - turns its fire on some of the party's "key figures" who it says have "gone absent without leave". Where is Tom Watson, Ed Miliband or Yvette Cooper, above, it asks, arguing these "hugely talented politicians... could do much to bolster Labour's campaign".

"They could be the recruiting sergeants Labour needs to bring wavering voters into its ranks," the editorial adds.  

The Sun on Sunday,, external meanwhile, focuses on defence with a blistering attack on Jeremy Corbyn. The paper's leader accuses him of having "spent his career allying with our enemies and doing everything he can to undermine our safety". 

It says it should come as "no surprise" that "strong and stable" is the Tory mantra because "they know it resonates" and that Labour would bring a "cocktail of weakness and instability". 

Read our full newspaper round-up.

Image source, Getty Images

The Lib Dems today are joining Labour in pledging their commitment to the "triple lock" on state pensions. That's the guarantee which requires the government to raise the pension each year in line with wages, inflation or by 2.5%, whichever is highest.

To help pay for the triple lock, the Lib Dems say they would take away winter fuel payments - worth up to £300 a year - from better off pensioners.

Former Lib Dem MP and business secretary Vince Cable - who's hoping to be re-elected in a few weeks time - said "an important test of a civilised society" was "the way in which it cares for the elderly". 

Prime Minister Theresa May has declined opportunities to confirm the Conservatives would guarantee the triple lock in their manifesto for the 8 June general election.

Mental health is the focus for the Tories today - and you might remember that on her first day in Downing Street last year, Theresa May described failures in care for those suffering from mental health problems as a "burning injustice".

Well, the party is promising to scrap the 1983 Mental Health Act and replace it with new laws governing treatment in England and Wales.

It also says it would reform the Equalities Act to tackle discrimination against people with mental health problems, and put an extra 10,000 staff into the NHS to care for them.

The Tories say the plans are motivated by the concern that "vulnerable people are being subject to detention, including in police cells, unnecessarily" as numbers of people detained or "sectioned" under the Mental Health Act have risen.  

Labour said the Tories appeared to be offering no extra funding for the promises.

Image source, Reuters

Labour had a tough time at the polls last week, losing hundreds of council seats, but it's attempting to retake the agenda today with some major commitments on tax.

As part of an election "personal tax guarantee" for 95% of taxpayers, shadow chancellor John McDonnell, above, says anyone earning less than £80,000 a year wouldn't see their income tax go up under a Labour government.

If you earn more than that though, you can expect to pay more to fund public services.

Mr McDonnell is also ruling out rises in VAT and employee national insurance rates, which he says would predominantly benefit low and middle earners.

For their part, the Conservatives, who have also ruled out a rise in VAT, say there is a £45bn black hole in Labour's tax proposals.

Welcome to our live politics coverage with the general election less than five weeks away. The dust has barely settled since the local elections last Thursday, but the parties are moving on and attempting to dazzle voters with fresh new policy announcements on everything from income tax to mental health. 

Theresa May has called the coming general election the most important of her lifetime.

Writing in the Sun on Sunday, she says it is vital that her supporters get out and vote, or they run the risk of the opposition parties forming a "coalition of chaos".

Europe's Brexit negotiators would capitalise on any sign of weakness, she writes.

Image source, Getty Images

Wealthier retirees would lose their annual winter fuel payment under Liberal Democrat proposals to protect the "triple lock" on state pensions

The election manifesto vow would see those on incomes in the 40% tax bracket lose the allowance worth up to £300.

But the Lib Dems said an extra £772 a year would be paid in pensions by 2021.

Labour has also pledged to retain the guarantee which sees the state pension rise in line with wages, inflation or by 2.5% - whichever is highest.

Prime Minister Theresa May has declined opportunities to confirm the Conservatives would guarantee the triple lock in their manifesto for the 8 June general election.

Read more...

Image source, PA

Labour is pledging not to raise income tax for those earning less than £80,000 a year as part of a "personal tax guarantee" for 95% of taxpayers.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell will vow to protect low and middle earners by also ruling out rises in VAT and employee national insurance rates.

But he will say the top 5% of earners will pay more to fund public services.

The Tories, who have also ruled out a rise in VAT, say there is a £45bn black hole in Labour's tax proposals.

Read more...

Let's face it. A late Saturday evening early on in the campaign isn't likely to be where the 2017 election is won or lost.

So, ahead of the heavyweight Sunday story rush, what about this intriguing little piece that the BBC website ran back in 2005?

If nothing else it's a nice reminder of just how much the site has changed over the years. 

Talking politics at a speed dating event, anyone?

Read more: Politics takes speed dating test

Don't worry: not long to go until Andrew Marr graces our screens at 09:00 BST on Sunday morning with an all-action show featuring Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Will they have new policy announcements up their sleeves?

The papers will reviewed by Conservative political blogger Tim Montgomerie, comedian and Labour activist Ayesha Hazarika and Buzzfeed's political editor Jim Waterson.

And for a musical interlude? Current darling of the critics Rory Charles Graham - better known as Rag 'n' Bone Man.

After the lull in campaigning for the local elections, the big beasts of British politics were busy wearing out their shoe leather on Saturday.

Image source, AFP

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, PA