Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Reporting

Tom Moseley, Andrew McFarlane and Bernadette McCague

All times stated are UK

Get involved

  1. Recap: Debate day round-up

    • The leaders of seven UK parties took part in a two-hour live televised election debate, clashing on a range of issues including the NHS, immigration and the deficit
    • It was the only debate of the campaign which will feature both David Cameron and Ed Miliband
    • Snap polls taken afterwards gave differing verdicts on the winner, with Nicola Sturgeon, Nigel Farage, Ed Miliband and David Cameron said to have impressed most - depending on the poll
    • The audience was encouraged not to clap or offer too much reaction. However one heckler did tackle the leaders on homelessness among armed forces veterans
  2. Performance analysis

    Iain Watson

    Political correspondent

    There was no "killer blow", says BBC political correspondent Iain Watson, who analyses how each of the leaders performed.

    Quote Message: Perhaps dividing lines were blurred by the very nature of a seven-way debate."

    Read more of Iain's analysis.

  3. Guardian front page

    Guardian
  4. Reality Check

    £21bn welfare savings

    One final check from the leaders' debate - David Cameron says his government has made £21bn of savings in welfare.

    This comes from analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility on the amount of savings or costs from introducing certain policy measures.

    The OBR estimated that £21bn would be saved by 2015-16 by implementing new policy measures on welfare, social security benefits and tax credits. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has produced its own estimate of welfare savings and puts the figure at more like £17bn.

    These figures relate to the amount saved compared with what would have happened if these policy changes hadn’t been implemented. It’s not the amount that the overall welfare spending has fallen. The IFS expects the amount spent on welfare in 2015-16 to be almost exactly the same as the amount spent in 2010-11 once the effects of inflation are removed.

  5. Telegraph front page

    Telegraph
  6. The Times front page

    The Times
  7. Independent front page

    Independent front page
  8. NHS and politics

    Question Time is ending with a debate about the NHS. Why won't politicians sign up to a multi-party committee to stop it becoming a "political football", the panel is asked. Andy Burnham, Labour's health spokesman, says it should be accountable to Parliament but adds that "nobody signed up for" the reforms carried out by the coalition. You can't take politics out of the NHS completely, says Lib Dem Danny Alexander, because people have different views.

  9. Reality Check

    Living wage

    Here's another look at a claim made during the debate. Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said 20% of workers were being paid less than the "living wage" - a term used by campaigners to describe the sum an individual must earn to cover basic living costs.

    That's estimated as £7.85 an hour, increased to £9.15 an hour for those working in London.

    A report from the independent Living Wage Commission in June 2014 found that “there remain 5.2 million people paid below a Living Wage in the UK”. The Commission includes representatives from business, trade unions and civil society.

    And the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), taken from 2014, estimate that 21.7% of UK jobs pay less than the Living Wage. Strictly speaking that's jobs, not workers.

    However, the proportion of jobs paying less than the living wage varies considerably when considering full-time and part-time jobs. In full time employment just 13.4% of jobs pay below the living wage, while the figure for part-time jobs rises to 42.3%.

  10. Snap poll results

    Here is a summary of the snap polls carried out after tonight's leaders' debate.

    Snap poll results
  11. More debate reaction to come

    This Week will gauge the reaction of Michael Portillo, David Lammy, Suzanne Evans, Miranda Green and SNP supporter Brian Cox, before host Andrew Neil winds down later with reality star Joey Essex. Watch live from 23:45 BST on BBC1.

    Joey Essex
  12. No game-changer?

    Nick Robinson

    Political editor

    Perhaps, says BBC political editor Nick Robinson. But the debate proved a new era of multi-party politics had become a "visible reality".

    Quote Message: This debate does not look likely to have determined who will win the general election but it may crystallise one single, simple and hugely significant fact - the shape of British politics has changed for good."

    Read more onNick's blog.

  13. Dominating the debate

    Some more on Twitter's analysis of what people were talking about during the #leadersdebate. The three moments that generated the greatest spikes in conversation on the social media site were:

    1. Nigel Farage’s comments on HIV

    2. The closing speeches

    3. A heckler interrupting

    Among the most re-tweeted posts was this satirical take by @GeneralBoles on Jonny Tudor, the 17-year-old who asked the first question of the evening.

    A tweet by GeneralBoles about the young man who asked the first question
  14. Immigration on Question Time

    Back to Question Time, and the panel is asked about immigration. "It's plain that we are full," says Peter Hitchens. Michael Gove doesn't agree, saying it's a "good thing when talented people come here". Lib Dem Danny Alexander says in many parts of the economy "we rely on people from other parts of the world".

  15. Heckler

    Victoria Prosser

    The heckler who interrupted David Cameron during the TV leaders' debate (see 21:47) says she will not be voting for any of the politicians who took part. Victoria Prosser, 33, said she was asked to leave after making her intervention. Speaking to reporters outside the studio, she said: "My cause is speaking the truth and making sure as many people as possible start questioning people at the top, the 1%, who are not working in our best interests."

  16. More from the Worm

    Quote Message: The nationalists had a harder time when talking about either Wales or Scotland – for a more generally British audience, these issues didn’t cut through. But the female leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens all saw positive movement – most impressively when Nicola Sturgeon (twice) spoke about free university tuition in Scotland, when the Worm hit one of its highest points.
  17. Worm's verdict

    Here's what the BBC's floating voter worm (explained here ) made of the leaders' debate:

    Quote Message: Our audience of about 50 floating voters were a fairly positive bunch. The Worm didn’t dip too low at any one point. It leapt to life most markedly during the NHS session – praising the NHS or talking about how valuable it was a sure fire way of getting the Worm to rise. Other moments where it hit high points included when leaders talked about values more generally. It dipped though when there were arguments, or leaders talking over each other. Interestingly the Worm was not too active while UKIP leader Nigel Farage talked about immigration – it did though warm to his positive remarks on the NHS.
  18. Jim Pickard, Financial Times

    @PickardJE

    tweets :

    Quote Message: I didn't like Farage's performance but viewers put him 1st, 2nd and 3rd in three polls. He can claim to have won whether or not you agree.
  19. Mighty Giant

    @mighty_giant

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Move the HofC to Salford. They all seem to be enjoying themselves up here #mediacity #leadersdabate @bbcqt
  20. Bargepole

    "First of all the women did fantastically well," says journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, to applause, on Question Time. The debate moves on to Scotland as Conservative Chief Whip Michael Gove says his party will do no deals with the SNP. "The SNP has made it clear they won't touch you with a bargepole", says David Dimbleby. "The feeling is mutual" replies Mr Gove.

  21. Latest from Salford

    Question Time

    Round two is well under way in Salford. How do this lot compare with the seven leaders? You can watch on the live coverage tab above.

  22. Question Time

    Columnist Peter Hitchens says that with the exception of Nigel Farage, all of the leaders had "rehearsed incessantly" in order to avoid making mistakes on tonight's debate.

  23. Nigel Morris, Deputy Poltical Editor, The Independent

    @NigelpMorris

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: YouGov has Con 37 (+1) Lab 35 (+1) Ukip 12 (-1) LDem 7 (-1) Green 5 (+1). No sign of election bounce LDems always rely on in elections
  24. Question Time panel

    Question Time panel
  25. Sturgeon most tweeted

    Nicola Sturgeon takes part in the ITV leaders' debate - 2 April 2015

    A look at Twitter shows SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was the most mentioned leader by a long way. Here's the full breakdown of mentions during the two-hour debate:

    @NicolaSturgeon 36,958

    @Nigel_Farage 18,404

    @NatalieBen 17,999

    @Ed_Miliband 16,036

    @LeanneWood 13,279

    @David_Cameron 11,196

    @Nick_Clegg 6,204

  26. Question Time

    Had your fill of political debate? Of course you haven't. Question Time is just getting under way now. You can watch on the live coverage tab above.

  27. Tom Newton Dunn, Political Editor, The Sun

    @tnewtondunn

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: YouGov/Sun poll tonight: Meanwhile, in the real world… Tory 2 point lead + at highest in 3 years: CON 37%, LAB 35%, UKIP 12%, LD 7%, GRN 5%
  28. And another poll...

    There are quite a few polls being released, and it's fair to say they don't exactly concur. Here's one from the Guardian/ICM.

    • Miliband: 25%
    • Cameron: 24%
    • Farage: 19%
    • Sturgeon: 17%
    • Clegg: 9%
    • Bennett: 3%
    • Wood: 2%
  29. More polling

    Another finding from the ComRes snap poll. 40% said David Cameron was "most capable of leading the UK" followed by Ed Miliband on 28% and Nigel Farage on 10%.

  30. Jamie Ross, @BuzzFeedUK

    @JamieRoss7

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: @TwitterUK say over 1.4 million tweets were sent about #leadersdebate. Most tweeted moment? Farage's comments on HIV.
  31. A dead heat?

    Respondents to an ITV News/ComRes poll scored the debate quite differently to YouGov.They recorded a dead heat between David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage on 21%. Nicola Sturgeon was one point behind, with Nick Clegg trailing on 9%, Natalie Bennett on 5% and Leanne Wood on 2%.

  32. Reality Check

    Apprenticeships for women

    Nick Clegg highlighted that more than half of those taking up apprenticeships are women. He’s right. From 2010/11 onwards, more apprenticeships have been started by women than men, according to a House of Commons Library analysis of BIS data.

    Chart showing apprenticeships
  33. 'Storming performance'

    More from the spin room. "I knew there would be no brain fade tonight," says the Green Party's Darren Johnson, in a reference to Natalie Bennett's struggles in a recent radio interview: "I knew she would put in a storming performance". Lib Dem Care Minister Norman Lamb says he is "proud" that Nick Clegg was the only leader to raise the importance of mental health investment.

  34. David Schneider, comedian

    @davidschneider

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Ratings so far: Milband 15% Sturgeon 19% Farage 21% Heckler 47% #leadersdebate
    A heckler interrupts proceedings at the ITV debate
    Image caption: A heckler was removed from the studio after interrupting proceedings
  35. Paul Waugh, Editor PoliticsHome.com

    @paulwaugh

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Osborne handed mobile by comms chief Craig Oliver, showing him YouGov poll that Sturgeon won, Cam 2nd. Osborne beams
  36. Reality Check

    Scots paying more?

    Lots of praise for Nicola Sturgeon. But how do her claims about tax stack up?

    The SNP leader says that for the last 30 years the Scots have paid more tax per head than the English.

    Whether that's true depends on how you share out revenue from North Sea oil.

    If you apportion them on a geographic basis then she's right (that's a division that counts almost all North Sea oil revenue as coming from Scotland).

    If you divide the revenue equally across the people of the UK then Scots have not paid more than the English, and that is also the case if you exclude oil revenue completely.

  37. Send us your comments

    Text: 61124

    Jim, S. Lanarkshire:

    More than anything, tonight's debate has demonstrated the need to have more women at the top of British politics. Very impressed by all the women - including Julie Etchingham who conducted superbly.

  38. Membership boost

    The SNP says that early poll suggesting Nicola Sturgeon came out on top is backed up by an increase in membership. The party claims to have gained 1,200 new members during the course of the debate.

  39. Poll result

    The final results of that YouGov poll of 1,100 people are in. Pollster Peter Kellner says SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was the "clear winner". Plenty more polls are being carried out, but here are the YouGov scores:

    Nicola Sturgeon 28%

    Nigel Farage 20%

    David Cameron 18%

    Ed Miliband 15%

    Nick Clegg 10%

    Natalie Bennett 5%

    Leanne Wood 4%

  40. Have your say

    Text: 61124

    Phil, Manchester:

    Too many NHS middle managers/ bureaucrats? Happy to do a job swap with Cameron / Farage for a week!

  41. Jamie Chapman, Daily Mail

    @jameschappers

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Farage: 'We think Britain can be a lot better than this.' Third leader to use a variant of that slogan #leadersdebate
  42. Craig Woodhouse, Sun Political Correspondent

    @craigawoodhouse

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Warning: in the next half hour you will hear some quite ridiculous spin from all sides. Ignore it. #leadersdebate
  43. Early poll

    We already have some polling data on the debate, as YouGov's Peter Kellner says that with the first 500 votes counted, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon is narrowly in the lead from UKIP leader Nigel Farage. Plenty more of that to come.

  44. Reality Check

    Funding for Wales

    So, a couple of claims that cropped up during the debate warrant closer examination.

    Leanne Wood said that funding for Wales ought to be brought up to the level Scotland gets.

    In 2013/14, public spending per head in the UK as a whole was £8,936. In England, it was £8,678. In Scotland it was £10,275. In Wales it was £9,924 and in Northern Ireland it was £10,961.

    More in this Reality Check

  45. Spinning starts

    It's reaction time, as attention turns to the "spin room". Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper says the debate showed why David Cameron was reluctant to take on Ed Miliband head-to-head. But Conservative Priti Patel says the PM put in a "clear and commanding performance".

  46. Feisty enough?

    So, the only debate to feature all of our major party leaders is at a close. There were some heated moments. But was it feisty enough for you?

    A screengrab from the debate
  47. Reaction and analysis

    That rounds up the debate but stay with us for reaction and analysis. Our Reality Check team will also be running over some of the claims made by party leaders to help you make sense of the issues.

  48. Scottie McClue, broadcaster

    @ScottieMcClue

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: @julieetchitv Has Done An Excellent Job Tonight @GdnPolitics #leadersdebate @itvnews @ITV #MediaCity #nicolasturgeon #DavidCameron #GE15
  49. Closing stages

    "Wherever you are, if you're thinking about voting Green... do it", says Natalie Bennett. "It needn't be the "least-worst option". Nigel Farage says: "If you want things to be shaken up and changed properly, you need to put more UKIP MPs at Westminster". David Cameron rounds things off, saying he wants another five years "because I want to finish the job we have started". His plan is about one word - security - he says. And that's your lot. Handshakes all round (which took a while).

  50. John Pienaar, BBC

    @JPonpolitics

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Sturgeon - little known across much of the UK outside Scotland - more than holding own in heavyweight company. Debate has worked for her.
  51. 'Clear choice'

    Ed Miliband says there is a "clear choice" at the election."When working people succeed, Britain succeeds," he says. "Let's bring the change that Britain needs". Leanne Wood offers a "stronger, more prosperous" Wales, and an end to its "second-rate financial settlement".

  52. Add to the debate

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Susan Hollywood, Belfast:

  53. Andrew Neil, BBC

    @afneil

    Tweets:false

    Quote Message: Is Cameron failing to insert himself in debate because he's been told not to? Or too unsure of himself?
  54. Closing statements

    None of us can afford more austerity, says Nicola Sturgeon. Ordinary people across the country will pay the price, she adds. Nick Clegg says when you vote, "make sure we don't lurch this way or that". He wants "opportunity for everyone".

  55. Sum1st

    @Sum1st

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: @BBCPolitics Nick Clegg asking Ed M to apologise for crashing the economy, not good, gimmicky #leadersdebate #GetAnswers
  56. Zero-hours contracts

    Ed Miliband attacks David Cameron over zero-hours contracts, promising to legislate to stop them. The PM says 70 Labour MPs employ staff on such contracts. That's it for this section, time for the closing statements.

  57. Isabel Hardman, Spectator

    @IsabelHardman

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Miliband has given the population more eye contact in this debate than most have had on romantic dates.
  58. Household income

    This chart shows household income by age group

    BBC graphic
  59. More from the polls

    All three of the latest opinion polls registered swings to Labour from 2010, ranging between 2.5% (YouGov) to 4.5% (Populus). David Cowling, editor, BBC Political Research, says: "In the 10 campaign polls to date, the Lib Dems have not yet hit double figures in any, broadly hovering around 8%, which is one-third of the support they received in 2010. The Greens seem to be settling around 5% for the present."

  60. Audience intervention

    David Cameron is interrupted by a woman in the audience who says there are homeless people on the streets who have been in the Armed Forces. Standing and shouting from the back, she says: "There are more of us than there are of them and they are not listening." The PM says she makes an important point about homeless veterans.

  61. Tony Ziemianski

    @TonyoTimes

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: instead of building loads more houses and taking away land, apartments are the answer. #LeadersDebate #GetAnswers
  62. Reality Check

    Unqualified teachers

    Ed Miliband complains that there are 17,000 unqualified teachers in our schools.

    The total is 17,100 according to latest school workforce statistics (these are figures for England only).

    But it's worth mentioning that that was a typical number under the last Labour government too.

    As of 2012, academies and free schools have been able to hire staff without qualified teaching status. However, unqualified teachers working in local authority maintained schools (the vast majority under Labour) are either trainees working towards qualified status, an overseas trained teacher or an instructor who had a particular skill who can be employed so long as a qualified teacher isn’t available.

  63. Send us your views

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Fran Clark:

  64. Rental issues

    Ed Miliband says private renting can be "incredibly insecure". Labour would change the law to make three-year tenancies the norm, he says.

  65. Ben Page, Ipsos MORI

    @@benatipsosmori

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Cam doing well on homes for young Brits #leadersdebate
  66. Alex Krasodomski, Associate at the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media, Demos

    @akrasodomski

    tweets:

    Quote Message: More than EIGHTY PERCENT of #leadersdebate tweets focus on personality not politics.
    Tweet by Alex Krasodomski showing Demos research
  67. Health 'tourism'

    You can review that clash between Nigel Farage, Leanne Wood and Nicola Sturgeon over health tourism via our online clip.

    Leaders clash over the NHS
  68. 'Old boys' network'

    Natalie Bennett brings things back to education, calling for "a much broader education that prepares our young people for life". Labour and the Conservatives would cut funding for Welsh education, says Leanne Wood. Plaid will "do all it can to end austerity" to be able to afford free tuition fees, she says. This shows "why we need to break the old boys' network at Westminster" says Nicola Sturgeon.

  69. Opinion polls

    Away from the debate, the first campaign outing by Panelbase has put Labour and the Conservatives both on 33% as well as giving UKIP its biggest share of the campaign so far, at 17%. Populus suggests a two-point Labour lead – 34% over 32% for the Conservatives. Meanwhile, YouGov turned in a two-point Conservative lead - 36% compared with Labour’s 34%.

  70. Coalition clashes

    After his coalition partner attacks Conservative education policy, David Cameron says: "With Nick Clegg, we sat in the Cabinet together, we took difficult decisions together." He criticises the Lib Dem leader's "pick and mix approach". They're criticising each other and they're both right, says Ed Miliband. Nick Clegg asks the Labour leader to apologise for "crashing the British economy".

  71. Patrick Mooney

    @patrick_mooney

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Farage has an interesting idea about grammar schools but fails to address private schools #leadersdebate
  72. Jane Vernon

    @JaneVernon2

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Nick I don't think anyone should ever forgive or forget your sell out on tuition fees, and I hope come 7 May they don't #Leadersdebate
  73. Conor Greaney

    @ConorEAGreaney

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: A lot of people on Twitter seem to criticise the leaders' appearances and not so much on their policies #sadreality #leadersdebate
  74. Young people

    The debate on young people has been thrown open to the floor. David Cameron says free schools are "a great institution".

    Debate
  75. James Forsyth, Spectator

    @JGForsyth

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Cameron pivots to pensions in a question about young peoples’ prospects, clearly determined to shoe-horn that message in
  76. Tom Bradby, Political Editor, ITV

    @tombradby

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: At last, Clegg vs Farage feels like a real debate.
  77. Charlie Brooker, broadcaster

    @charltonbrooker

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Not sure "Tough on AIDS victims" is going to be a popular campaign slogan. #LeadersDebate
  78. Young people

    A 25-year-old audience member poses the next question, asking what the leaders will do about the difficulties faced by young people including tuition fees and affording a home.

  79. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Peter, Larne:

    SMS Message: As a British citizen from Northern Ireland, I am totally disgusted that the largest party here the DUP is not allowed to be part of the debate. It is the 4th largest party in terms of Westminster seats. Why on earth are the Greens and Welsh Nationals invited?
  80. Sturgeon most tweeted

    After the first hour of the #leadersdebate , SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was the most talked about leader on Twitter.

    And there was a stark difference to the debates of five years ago, with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg getting the least attention on the social media site.

    Here's the breakdown of how many mentions each of the leaders' Twitter names got up to 21:00, although - of course - it doesn't take into account whether the tweets were positive or negative:

    @NicolaSturgeon 11,919 @Nigel_Farage 8,468 @NatalieBen 8,218 @Ed_Miliband 7,574 @David_Cameron 5,273 @LeanneWood 5,171 @Nick_Clegg 2,345

  81. EU referendum

    Not every problem can be solved with an EU referendum, Nick Clegg tells Nigel Farage. Natalie Bennett says the Green Party supports a referendum but would be campaigning strongly to stay in.

  82. 'We got it wrong'

    We did get it wrong on immigration, says Ed Miliband, "and I have changed our approach".

  83. Sandy Sloan

    @Sandy92Sloan

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Agree with @NicolaSturgeon that #Scotland should not be taken out of #Europe against it's will #leadersdebate
  84. Reality Check

    Was migration 40,000 in the 1990s?

    Nigel Farage repeats his claim that between 1990 and 1997, net migration to the UK was about 40,000 a year. This chart from the ONS shows that it was only close to 40,000 in 1990, 1991 and 1997. More details in this Reality Check.

    Chart showing migration
  85. sunnylambe

    @sunnylambe

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: #David Cameron has failed on his own promise to cut immigration. Ed Miliband has hit a bullseye. David, don't make promises you can't keep!
  86. Paul Delamore

    @pauldelamore

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Natalie Bennett separating herself from SNP with great follow up to families broken up by immigration. Well played. #ge2015 #leadersdebate
  87. It's getting lively...

    David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage are talking over each other as the PM says the "irony" is that voting UKIP would help Labour. That was the rowdiest we've had so far.

  88. Who's "worst"?

    More on that ITV News/ComRes poll. While 24% of those 615 viewers thought Nigel Farage was "winning", 22% thought he was performing worst. That's more than any other leader. Some 21% thought Natalie Bennett was the worst performer, followed by Leanne Wood (18%), David Cameron (17%), Ed Miliband (10%), Nick Clegg (7%) and Nicola Sturgeon (6%).

  89. Send us your views

    Text: 61124

    Politics Live viewer:

    I have a vision of Julie Etchingham as Snow White with her seven friends... Doc, Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy and Happy.

  90. Post update

    Nick Clegg argues with Nigel Farage
  91. 'Ordinary folk'

    Nigel Farage says immigration has meant the wages of "ordinary folk" have been compressed because of immigration. The answer to that is to raise the minimum wage, says Nick Clegg. He and Mr Farage are married to foreigners, he says, calling for the UKIP leader to be "open hearted". Side-by-side, the two men clash in a repeat of their EU debate as Mr Farage urges Mr Clegg to admit there is nothing he can do about immigration while the UK is an EU member.

  92. 'Human lives'

    Natalie Bennett says she disagrees with Leanne Wood that the immigration debate is about economics. "It is about human lives," she says. She challenges David Cameron over accepting Syrian refugees.

  93. Reality Check

    More jobs than the rest of the EU?

    David Cameron says the UK has created more jobs than the rest of the EU put together.

    The first thing to say is that there are no statistics comparing job creation across the EU.

    Downing Street told independent factcheckers Full Fact that this claim is based on a comparison between the number of people in employment in the second quarters of 2010 and 2014, using Eurostat data.

    Based on those figures, it is true that the number of people in employment increased in the UK more than in the rest of the EU put together: there were 1.7 million additional people in employment in the UK while in the rest of the EU combined the number dropped by 1.5 million.

    Statisticians, however, say that it is wrong to make conclusions on job creation based on employment figure. They are two different things: the employment figures include, for example, self-employed as well as part-time workers sharing a job.

  94. Farage v Cameron

    Farage takes on Cameron over immigration. The UKIP leader says other EU leaders will not accept changes he wants to the free movement of people. The PM says Mr Farage "is basically saying 'give up before you've begun'".

  95. Half-time poll

    An ITV News/ComRes poll of 615 people watching the debate put Nigel Farage in the lead at the half-time stage. Some 24% of people felt he was performing best, ahead of Ed Miliband, who most impressed 21% of people. Then came David Cameron (19%) and Nicola Sturgeon (18%), followed by Nick Clegg (10%), Natalie Bennett (7%) and Leanne Wood (2%)

  96. Good or bad immigration?

    There's good immigration and bad immigration, says Nick Clegg: "I want Britain to be open for business, not open to abuse". Natalie Bennett says the difficulties people cite are not to do with immigration, they are failures of government policy.

  97. UK net migration figures

    Graphic showing long-term net migration to the UK
  98. Doc Atherton

    @realdocatherton

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Ironically in Thanet where Nigel Farage is standing, immigration is considerably LOWER than the rest of the country! #leadersdebate #GE2015
  99. 'Fair changes'

    David Cameron outlines his planned curbs on EU migrants' entitlement to welfare. "Those are fair changes I can deliver," he says. Nigel Farage next - the other parties are all the same, he says, adding that "nothing can be done" about immigration while the UK is an EU member.

  100. 'Fear of UKIP'

    The recession wasn't caused by Polish care workers or Estonian bar workers, says Leanne Wood, saying she will not join in with the "scapegoating" of immigrants. Nicolas Sturgeon agrees, saying the views of the Westminster parties were being "driven by the fear of UKIP".

  101. Second half

    We're back up and running after a brief interlude, with a question from Joan Richards about immigration. Ed Miliband says he's changed Labour's approach on the issue, saying he will strengthen controls and stop employers "undercutting" wages with migrant labour.

  102. Tim Shipman, Political Editor, Sunday Times

    @ShippersUnbound

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I've had six texts from upbeat Tories already. This time last week? Nada.
  103. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Politics Live Viewer:

    SMS Message: What is the point of having an audience in the studio when there is not an atom of reaction to any of the points being raised by the leaders. This so-called debate is a complete turn-off. Can anyone be surprised at the lack of interest people have in politicians and, more to the point, bothering to vote.
  104. Free social care?

    Natalie Bennett says the Green Party would offer free social care to over 65s who need it.

  105. Mid Staffs

    David Cameron asks Ed Miliband about the scandal at Mid Staffordshire hospital under the last Labour government, saying "elderly people were left uncared for because the target culture had run rampant". The Labour leader says the NHS is "going backwards" under this government.

  106. Anne McElvoy, The Economist

    @annemcelvoy

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Is that BBC worm calibrated too generously ? Barely any negative response. unless the sample group just loves seven different politicians
  107. More on A&E waiting

    Our graphic shows the NHS's performance against waiting time targets in England.

    Graph showing waiting times at casualty departments in England
  108. Reality Check

    A&E waiting

    Ed Miliband says one million people waited more than four hours at A&E in England in the last year.

    NHS England statistics for 2014/15 to date show that more than 1.3 million people have waited more than four hours at A&Es in England. That’s against a total of almost 22 million attendances.

    Hospitals are dealing with increasing demand - last year total attendance was 32% higher than 10 years ago.

  109. Isabel Hardman, The Spectator

    @IsabelHardman

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Farage opting to join the ministry of silly faces here. Pulls epic face when Sturgeon says he’s blaming everything on immigrants
  110. More 'scaremongering'?

    Ed Miliband questions how the NHS would be funded under a Conservative government. Social care cuts undermine the NHS, he says. Scaremongering, says David Cameron. He says more money has been committed to "unblock hospital beds".

  111. Paul Allan

    @pallan84

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: @NicolaSturgeon wins the debate because she is feisty !!! #leadersdebate
  112. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Politics Live viewer:

    13 years a doctor in NHS. Paid tax from day one, learned a lot, helped people, saved lives, made friends. Yes, I am an Immigrant, yes I am proud of our NHS. STOP immigrant bashing and misleading the public on NHS tourism. Tell them the truth, it needs money for a reforming modern, growing NHS.

  113. HIV treatment

    Leanne Wood accuses Nigel Farage of "dangerous scaremongering" after he raises the cost of treating foreigners who are HIV positive.

  114. Get involved

    Text: 61124

    Politics Live viewer:

    15 to 1? More like the Weakest Link. Wouldn't it be great if Anne Robinson was in charge?

  115. Bureaucrats

    It's Milband v Cameron on the NHS again. The Labour leader says the PM has broken all his promises on the NHS. Would he rehire the "bureaucrats" who have been cut, asks the Conservative leader.

  116. Reality Check

    Healthcare money going on profits

    Natalie Bennett says that 5% of healthcare spending is going on profits.

    The Department of Health says NHS spending on private providers has increased by one percentage point – from 4.9% of total spend in 2010/11 to 5.9% in 2013/14.

    However, not all of that is profit for the providers.

    The Health and Social Care Act regulations, which allowed for managed competition within the NHS, did not come into force until 1 April 2013. That means we only have one year of data after the government’s reforms.

    Also, these figures relate to hospital care only. We don’t have equivalent figures for community care.

  117. Pic: Facing the audience

    The full debate set
  118. Mental health

    Mental health is the "poor cousin" of physical health and needs more money, says Nick Clegg. Nicola Sturgeon returns to UKIP, saying: "There's not anything that Nigel Farage won't blame on foreigners". Leanne Wood says the two largest parties use healthcare as a "political football".

  119. John Rentoul, Columnist Independent on Sunday

    @JohnRentoul

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Farage's challenge to the establishment diverted twice now into Bennett's far left cul de sac.
  120. 'Hospital car park'

    Ed Miliband says that in one case, patients were treated in a tent in a hospital car park. He says he does not believe that represents the government looking after the NHS. David Cameron says Labour "cut the NHS in Wales".

  121. Health tourism?

    The NHS question is now open to the floor. What about "health tourism", asks Nigel Farage. Shaking her head, Natalie Bennett says his figures "do not reflect the reality" and says the health service's foreign workforce is vital.

  122. Watch again: Clegg v Cameron

    You can review that spat between Nick Clegg and David Cameron over their respective approaches to cutting the deficit.

    Screengrab from the debate
  123. 'Important institution'

    Ed Miliband says Labour would raise cash for the NHS with a mansion tax and from hedge funds and tobacco companies. David Cameron says the NHS is "the most important national institution that we have" and recalls the "unbelievable" care given to his disabled son. A strong NHS needs a strong economy, he adds.

  124. Chris Ship, ITV News Deputy Political Editor

    @chrisshipitv

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Hope they've got a water refiller in that room. They're all gulping it down #leadersdebate
  125. 'Hard cash'

    Nick Clegg: "The NHS doesn't need warm words, it needs hard cash". Leanne Wood says the NHS in Wales faces two threats: From austerity, and "centralisation" under the Labour administration.

  126. Yousuf Ali

    @salonepekin

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I must confess that this GB #leadersdebate is 100 times more entertaining than US election debates. #GetAnswers
  127. Too many middle managers?

    Nigel Farage says there are too many "middle managers" in the NHS, and vows to end hospital parking charges. They've already been scrapped in Scotland, says Nicola Sturgeon. The NHS should be run as a public service not for private profit, she adds.

  128. NHS

    How will the leaders secure the future of the NHS, is the next question from 63-year-old Terry Kelly.

  129. Pic: The colour coded podiums

    The full line up
  130. Sarah Lambert

    @SarahLambert01

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Good to hear @NicolaSturgeon asking @David_Cameron where cuts to benefits will fall. #disabilitybenefits #LeadersDebates #GE2015
  131. Pic: Making a point

    Nicola Sturgeon and David Cameron
  132. 'Balanced' cuts

    Ed Miliband brings the deficit section to a close by saying: "Cuts will have to come, but we can do it in a balanced way."

  133. Have your say

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Sally Wilson

  134. Pic: Natalie Bennett, Green leader

    Green leader Natalie Bennett
  135. Echoes of 2010?

    Ed Miliband and Nicola Sturgeon clash over austerity. Shades of 2010's "I agree with Nick" debate, as Natalie Bennett says: "Nicola Sturgeon is absolutely right. You have a choice between the two largest parties here between austerity-heavy and austerity-light."

  136. Send us your comments

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    S. Slade:

  137. Pic: Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader

    Nicole Sturgeon
  138. Farage v Sturgeon

    "The English are a bit cheesed off with so much of their money going over Hadrian's Wall" and being spent on free prescriptions and university education, says Nigel Farage. Nicola Sturgeon says Scots pay more in tax.

  139. Reality Check

    Disabled hit by housing changes

    Natalie Bennett says two thirds of those affected by the bedroom tax are disabled.

    From April 2013 those receiving housing benefit for rented social housing have seen their payments cut if they live in a property that is considered too big for their needs.

    The government described the policy as “the removal of the spare room subsidy”; Labour christened it “the bedroom tax”.

    In its impact assessment of the policy, the government estimated that 66% of households affected by the changes include someone who is disabled.

    But the impact assessment says that this group includes people who do not currently have difficulties with daily activities but who have had in the past or would do if they were not able to control their symptoms with medication.

  140. Renee Dougal

    @rendougal

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: 20 mins into debate I'm struggling fight fight fight #GetAnswers
  141. Pic: Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader

    Leanne Wood
  142. 'Recession before last'

    "In the valleys where I live, we have yet to recover from the recession before last," says Leanne Wood. She says Labour has failed these areas. Ed Miliband does not accept this and returns to his attack on the Conservatives.

  143. Deficit debate

    Natalie Bennett says Britain needs to be a "humane and decent society". David Cameron says the deficit has been cut in half, and then produces a copy of the note famously left by former Labour Treasury minister Liam Byrne saying there was "no money left". Ed Miliband says the PM is talking about the past, not the future.

  144. Reality Check

    Halving the deficit

    There's lots of shouting about whether the deficit (that's the difference between the amount the government spends in a year and how much it raises) has halved since the last election.

    That's true, but only as a proportion of gross domestic product, which is what you get when you add up all the stuff produced by the economy.

    In cash terms it hasn't fallen by that much.

  145. Alastair Stewart, ITV News

    @alstewitn

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: #leadersdebate @julieetchitv will be reaching for her 'yellow card' before too long.
  146. Karl Davis

    @KarlusDavius

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: So is Ed Milliband actually going to say HOW he is going to do all these things? #GetAnswers
  147. Reality Check

    Wages falling behind bills?

    Graph showing average earnings and inflation

    Ed Miliband says that wages have not been keeping up with bills for the last five years.

    Actually, this graph from the ONS shows that inflation has been higher than earnings for most, but not quite all, of the last five years.

  148. Battle for centre ground

    Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg, standing next to one another, disagree on foreign aid. But once again, Mr Clegg chooses to attack Labour and the Conservatives, trying to position the Lib Dems as the centre ground between the two.

  149. Pic: David Cameron, Conservative leader

    David Cameron
  150. Tax row

    After Ed Miliband joins in and attacks the Conservatives over hedge funds, the PM hits back, saying the Labour leader "wants to put up tax and cut your pay".

  151. Pic: Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader

    Nick Clegg
  152. Clegg v Cameron

    The rose garden seems a long way off as Nick Clegg attacks his coalition partner's economic plan. "Just imagine, David Cameron, the chaos in people's lives" caused by the Conservatives' spending cuts, he says.

  153. Open floor

    Austerity is "pushing people into austerity", says Nicola Sturgeon. Her plan would allow resources to invest, she says. That's the initial answers out of the way, now they will contest each other's arguments.

  154. Craig Woodhouse, The Sun political correspondent

    @craigawoodhouse

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Farage also looking sweaty now. Someone turn the air con on. Or get them a towel in the ad break. #leadersdabate
  155. Living standards

    Ed Miliband says Labour would "boost living standards" and "live within our means". Natalie Bennett attacks the austerity narrative, saying taxes should be raised on "those who aren't currently paying their share".

  156. Reality Check

    Are two million more in work?

    David Cameron says two million more people are working since the last election.

    The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that there were around 30.9 million employed people in Britain. At the time of the last election there were around 29m people in work. So the prime minister has rounded up from about 1.9 million.

  157. 'Arbitrary deadlines'

    But Leanne Wood, of Plaid Cymru, says there is no need for "arbitrary deadlines" on deficit reduction. She says: "The austerity experiment has failed". A different view comes from Nigel Farage who says £10bn could "easily" be cut from foreign aid and that "vanity projects" like the HS2 rail line should be stopped.

  158. Pic: Ed Miliband

    Ed Miliband
  159. Columnist and broadcaster Iain Dale

    @IainDale

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Opening statement verdict: Farage and Sturgeon 8 out of 10, the winners. #leadersdebate
  160. 'Balanced' plan

    The Lib Dems will cut less than the Conservatives and borrow less than Labour, says Nick Clegg. David Cameron says the Conservative plan offers "balance". Savings will represent £1 out of every £100 of government spending, he says. The PM states his opposition to putting up taxes to balance the books.

  161. Matthew d'Ancona, Guardian columnist

    @MatthewdAncona

    Tweets: false

    Quote Message: 'Let's not go back to square one: Britain can do so much better than that' - Dave half-inches Ed's line #leaderdebate
  162. First question

    The first question is about how the leaders will cut the deficit while protecting public services.

  163. Reality Check

    Is the UK the fastest growing economy?

    David Cameron says the UK has the fastest growing economy of any major Western country.

    The IMF economic forecasts from January 2015 said that the UK grew by 2.6% in 2014. That was more than other major western economies including the US (forecast to grow at 2.4%), Canada (2.4%) and Germany (1.5%). It grew less than China and India, which grew at 7.4% and 5% respectively. That is why the government doesn’t say the UK economy grew faster than any other economy.

    Reality Check analysed a similar claim here.

  164. Ed Miliband

    Ed Miliband lists a string of things he would do if he is prime minister. They include banning exploitative "zero hours" contracts and "saving" the NHS.

  165. Tonight's format

    Leaders' debate

    Host Julie Etchingham explains that the leaders will now face questions from the audience.

  166. Leanne Wood

    In a hung Parliament, Plaid Cymru can "win for Wales" says Leanne Wood.

  167. David Cameron

    The prime minister's turn: The economic plan is working, David Cameron says. "Let's not go back to square one, Britain can do so much better than that," he adds.

  168. Reality Check

    Are most of our laws made somewhere else?

    Nigel Farage says most of our laws are made elsewhere.

    This House of Commons paper from 29 January 2015 provided figures for Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments (SIs) from 1993 to 2014, which implemented or referred to UK obligations under EU law.

    It found that 9.7% of acts and 12.9% of SIs were linked to implementation of EU obligations. Put together, 12.8% of acts and SIs were EU-related.

  169. Brianna Bethany

    @Brianna_Bethany

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: 30 seconds is all it took nigel to say europe #GE2015 #leadersdebate
  170. Nicola Sturgeon

    Nicola Sturgeon says the SNP will work with other "parties of like mind" to end the "bedroom tax" and protect the NHS.

  171. Nick Clegg

    Nick Clegg says no party will win the election outright and says he won't pretend he's not made mistakes. His Liberal Democrats offer "grit", he adds.

  172. Post update

    Nigel Farage
  173. Nigel Farage

    Nigel Farage starts by pointing out that the other six panelists all support Britain's EU membership. He says he wants to "take back control of our borders".

  174. 'Principles first'

    "You all deserve better. Let's put principles and values first," Ms Bennett says. She promises to clamp down on bankers' bonuses and tackle climate change.

  175. Robert H

    @scottishphoenix

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Here we go! It's either gonna be a breakthrough or a brilliant political bunfight! 😁 #GE2015 #leadersdebate
  176. Pic: Scene of the debate

    The leaders on set
  177. Opening statements

    And we're off. First up with her introductory remarks is Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.

  178. Columnist Gaby Hinsliff

    @gabyhinsliff

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Nothing says 'whoop! eve of bank holiday' like two solid hours of seven-way political debate, does it? #debate2015
  179. Unionist 'vision'

    One party which won't be represented on the podium is the Democratic Unionist Party, which had eight MPs at the last election. Nigel Dodds, the party's leader at Westminster, says people should be told the party's vision for the whole of the UK, not just Northern Ireland. The DUP has not committed to siding with either of the largest parties, he adds.

  180. Add to the debate

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Wayne Roff:

  181. Ben Glaze, Daily Mirror Political Correspondent

    @benglaze

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Great @KayBurley slap down to @George_Osborne on @SkyNews : "Don't try and soft-soap me." #leadersdebate
  182. Five minute warning

    Salford studios

    If you're going to make a cup of tea, do it now. It's nearly show time. Here are the formalities of what's coming up:

    • Natalie Bennett will make the first of seven opening statements of the debate, while David Cameron will speak last
    • Each leader will be allowed to give an uninterrupted one-minute answer to questions posed by members of the studio audience
    • There will then be up to 18 minutes of debate on each question; in all four "substantial election questions" will be addressed
    • Leaders will not see the questions in advance and an "experienced editorial panel" will select them
  183. 'No role-plays'

    UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall says Nigel Farage hasn't gone through any role-plays in preparation. The Liverpudlian tells the BBC News Channel that - with his accent and background - he doesn't think he could act out the part of David Cameron.

  184. Tina

    @tbo51972

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Really hoping this debate will at least help me a little in deciding who to vote for. I'm sooo undecided it's frustrating #leadersdebate
  185. SNP influence

    Stewart Hosie of the SNP says he doubts leader Nicola Sturgeon is nervous.

    Stewart Hosie
    Quote Message: The first thing is, because this debate's happening at all, the two-party political system is gone"
  186. Steve Hawkes, Deputy Political Editor, The Sun

    @steve_hawkes

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Eyes down for the debates - wonder what pre-prepared barb Nicola Sturgeon has up her sleeve for the PM?"
  187. David Hughes, Press Association

    @DavidHughesPA

    tweets :

    Quote Message: Spin room: Clegg message to voters they're not just deciding between DC/EdM but also potential pact/coalition allies"
  188. Pundits' previews

    Caroline Wheeler, of the Sunday Express, says David Cameron needs to "show more flair" tonight than in last week's leader's interviews, while Ed Miliband needs to look "more statesmanlike". Jack Blanchard, of the Mirror, wonders whether the public at large are as excited by proceedings as "us Westminstery people".

  189. BBC Radio 4 producer Kevin Mousley

    @kevinmousley

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Ever been in shop with loads of people u think you know then realise they are off the telly #mediacity #mediascrum#electiondebate"
  190. 'Winning' a debate

    Nick Robinson

    Political editor

    The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson blogs about what it means to "win" a debate. He suggests all leaders watching David Cameron's performance last week will have learned that it's not enough to simply set out to calmly persuade those who have bothered to watch and not enough to avoid making any embarrassing gaffes.

    Quote Message: You also need to say something clippable and memorable that challenges voters' preconceptions of you and helps to write the next chapter of this election saga."
  191. Clegg's here

    Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had a smile for the cameras as he arrived at the studio.

    Nick Clegg
  192. Nadia Gilani

    @nadiagilani

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I've raced to get near a telly to watch tonight's leaders debate. It better be riveting. #GE2015
  193. Spot polling

    Peter Kellner, of polling organisation YouGov, says 1,000 people will be asked who they think won tonight's debate "the instant David Cameron says the final words". He says the result should be known "within just a few minutes".

  194. The Camerons arrive

    And here's Prime Minister David Cameron, with wife Samantha, hot on the heels of the Lib Dem leader.

    David and Samantha Cameron arrive at Media City
  195. Clegg at Media City

    We're hearing that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has just arrived at the Salford debate venue.

  196. Chris Cook, policy editor, BBC Newsnight

    tweets :

    Quote Message: If each leader fires a 10-second zinger at every other leader without any pauses between them, it will take 7 minutes to get through"
  197. Ed does Cosmo

    Ed Miliband has ventured into new territory, taking the Cosmopolitan quiz . His hand-written responses to a wide range of questions include naming Ellie Goulding as his favourite musician and revealing the last text he received said: "Don't do Cosmo questionnaires."

  198. Leaders at Media City

    Green party leader Natalie Bennett has been in Manchester all day and she's arrived at the Salford studios for tonight's debate. She'll be kicking off proceedings with the first of the leaders' opening statements.

    Natalie Bennett arrives at Media City
  199. Sure Start row

    There's been no ceasefire between the parties ahead of the big debate tonight. Labour has been defending its claim that 1,000 Sure Start centres could close under the Conservatives. "Utter nonsense" say the Tories. Here's the story .

  200. Election priorities

    BBC News has been speaking to voters across the country, asking which issues are important to them. Tonight, Myrtle Oke, who moved to Leeds from the Caribbean in the 1950s, says: "I do hope there will be no more cuts in funding, because it does affect each and every one of us." She also hopes for a "good reliable bus service".

    Myrtle Oke
  201. Feathers flying?

    The Mirror Chicken - the newspaper's mischief maker-in-chief - is outside Media City. Local youngsters don't look that impressed.

    The Mirror Chicken outside Media City
  202. The day in pictures

    BBC picture editor Phil Coomes has put together a gallery of the day's best images, such as this one of Ed Miliband meeting a four-year-old at Bury town hall.

    Ed Miliband meets four-year-old Jennifer Talbot Bagnall at Bury town hall
  203. Victoria Sorzano

    @VicSorzano

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Watching a drone outside my office window at #MediaCity and seeing pics from drone on TV at same time. Weird. #LeadersDebate
  204. Greens 'upbeat'

    The pre-debate warm-up continues. Green MP Caroline Lucas says party leader Natalie Bennett is feeling "pretty confident" ahead of the televised debate tonight and the party was "feeling very upbeat" about the opportunity to put their policies to a wide audience.

  205. Add to the debate

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    David Richardson:

  206. Alan Guy

    @AlanGuy_

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: .@Ed_Miliband, @David_Cameron what r chances of sensible dialogue 2night? rather than points scoring, message delivering nonsence #GE2015
  207. Paul Waugh, Editor of PoliticsHome.com

    @paulwaugh

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Really interesting dynamic in #leadersdebate is 3 female ldrs. Cd be asymmetric warfare:men wary of looking macho even if women hit em hard
  208. Latest seat forecast

    BBC Newsnight Index

    For the course of the general election campaign, BBC's Newsnight will be publishing an exclusive Newsnight Index on the likely outcome, based on a sophisticated forecast model. It is produced by Professor Chris Hanretty from the University of East Anglia and his colleagues at electionforecast.co.uk.

    For more information on how the Index is produced, see here

    Newsnight Index graphic
  209. Knowing the issues

    Former Conservative leader William Hague says David Cameron knows all the issues "inside out" and is used to debating them on a weekly basis at prime minister's questions. "There's no substitute in these things for knowing what you are talking about," he says.

  210. Jo Austen

    @joausten14

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Someone at ITV is having a laugh with their choice of hashtag for the debate tonight #GetAnswers #yeahright
  211. Jenga skills

    UKIP's Patrick O'Flynn tells the BBC that - following David Cameron's suggestion earlier that he might need some ju jitsu skills to take on Nigel Farage - the UKIP leader would be "more strategic" and might need some Jenga skills to "find the brick that will send the whole edifice of Cameron cascading to the ground".

  212. Craig Woodhouse, The Sun political correspondent

    @craigawoodhouse

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: This Ed four-shoes thing is weird. Couldn't he choose between the two pairs?
  213. Audience arrives

    Audience members queue for TV debate
    Image caption: Two-and-a-half hours to go... but the keenest among the audience members are already queuing up.
  214. 'Gutsy' Clegg

    More party figures are in the "spin room" talking up their leaders ahead of the TV debate. Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown says Nick Clegg is "gutsy" and "loves this sort of thing" - as evidenced by his weekly radio phone-in show. While he was the "new boy" last time - now he has the experience of being in government and is "really up for it", Lord Ashdown says.

  215. Summer Bunny

    @SR_Otieno

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I am actually excited for the debate. #GE2015 . Especially interested in hearing what will go on between Ed and David.
  216. 'Top of his game'

    Outside the ITV studios in Salford's MediaCityUK, Lucy Powell, Labour's election campaign vice-chairwoman, says Ed Miliband is at "the top of his game" and is "up for" the debate tonight. "He's really looking forward to this opportunity... to put forward his plan for the country."

  217. Ryan Curran

    @nufcLoverRyan

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: David Cameron preparing for the #leadersdebate "Long term economic plan. Long term economic plan. Long term economic plan. long..." #GE2015
  218. 'This should be David Cameron but that looks like a woman'

    He's used to tackling political heavyweights but you can watch here how seven tiny plastic people left the BBC's Norman Smith stumped when he was presented with a Lego mock-up of the studio for tonight's debate.

    Norman Smith with the Lego model
  219. Away from the studios

    While party leaders are polishing their acts ahead of tonight's televised showdown, campaigning continues on the doorsteps. Conservative chairman Grant Shapps is canvassing with candidate for Wells, James Heappey, in Street, Somerset.

    A voter greets Grant Shapps and Conservative candidate for Wells James Heappey in Street, Somerset
  220. Kamal Ahmed, BBC business editor

    tweets :

    Quote Message: Am told that @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot was approached by Tories but wasn't aware it was to sign the pro-Conservative business letter"
  221. How to keep cool under pressure?

    Margaret Thatcher's former make-up artist Sandra Exelby tells BBC Radio 5 live that a "chamois leather would work wonders for a sweaty brow" during the leader's debate.

  222. Sherman

    @shermanking40

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: So #leadersdebate is already trending on Twitter - @David_Cameron how can you tell us that the public don't have an appetite for it?"
  223. What is the worm?

    During the BBC's coverage of tonight's debate, there will be much talk of "the worm". It's a way of measuring the reaction of an audience of 50 undecided voters to what the leaders say, as Reeta Chakrabarti explains .

  224. AstraZeneca statement

    More on the news that AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot has withdrawn his name from the letter signed by 100 business leaders supporting the Conservatives' economic policies. He said: "I support policies that reinforce a competitive tax environment and encourage investment in the UK. Neither I nor AstraZeneca endorse any political party and while I support such policies my name should not be used in the context of the letter."

  225. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Keith Lloyd, Costa Blanca, Spain:

    SMS Message: Won't be any difference than Parliament, always slagging each other off there.
  226. Take part in the debate

    @olliet_uk

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Guess who's been invited to tonights UK television debate between the major party leaders? Me. Booya! #leadersdebate
  227. Neil Underwood

    @nealu_freelance

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I'm only watching tonight's #leadersdebate if it's hosted by Mrs Merton
  228. Kamal Ahmed, BBC business editor

    @bbckamal

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Whoops. @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot has withdrawn his name from the business letter supporting Conservatives
  229. Nick Clegg

    @nickclegg

    Tweets:

    Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister
    Quote Message: Just catching up on a few stats and figures before the #leadersdebate tonight. #StrongerEconomy #FairerSociety.
  230. McGuinness 'philosophical'

    Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is "philosophical" about Sinn Fein's exclusion from tonight's TV debate, along with Northern Ireland's other parties. He told the BBC he would "get on with fighting" the election campaign but said he wanted to hear those leaders taking part to commit to an "end to austerity", particularly the "targeting of children with disabilities" and "families with children". Sinn Fein MPs do not take up their seats in the Commons.

  231. Doorstep decisions

    Pollster Lord Ashcroft has been speaking to undecided voters in Thurrock, Essex, and Brentford, west London, about their reaction to street campaigning. His blog says : "While some in the groups confessed to peeking from upstairs curtains to avoid opening the door to a canvasser, there was still an appetite for the traditional doorstep conversation: 'You can send me bits of paper all you like, but I’ve got questions. You can’t ask a piece of paper questions. Knock on my door!'"

  232. Jamie Ross,

    @JamieRoss7

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I've just got back to my Premier Inn and Paddy Ashdown is checking in.
  233. Gilberdyke Keith

    @ExBROUGH

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: #leadersdebate Will the show open to the soundtrack of The Magnificent Seven?
  234. Backing for Labour

    The SDLP - along with Northern Ireland's other parties - weren't invited to take part in tonight's debate. But the party's Alex Attwood says his MPs might back a Labour government in the next parliament "if it closes the door on austerity". He says his party wants to hear Ed Miliband use the debate to commit to more funding for Northern Ireland.

    Alex Attwood
    Quote Message: If Labour steps up to the mark, if it closes the door on austerity, if it recognises that the transition from the past to the future in Northern Ireland is longer and more difficult and costly and that they introduce special measures in terms of budget and welfare and investment then... we may vote for a Labour government but we will vote down a Tory government."
  235. Send us your comments

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Gareth Herron, Aberdeen

  236. Reality Check

    Is there a normal immigration level?

    Luton Airport arrivals area

    Immigration is set to be one of the four main issues covered in tonight's TV debate. And Nigel Farage has been talking about the subject this morning, saying he wants levels of migration to the UK to return to the "normal" levels of the 1990s.

    Which begs the question: is there a normal immigration level? Over to BBC Reality Check...

  237. Modern Nonsense

    @nonsense_modern

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: #leadersdebate drinking game: Drink when @Nigel_Farage smirks (sip it, don't down it or you'll be drunk two minutes in...)
  238. Leaders start to arrive

    We've still got more than four hours to go before the debate begins but party leaders have started to arrive at the Media City studios. Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood spared a few minutes for reporters on the way in

    Leanne Wood arrives at Media City
  239. Add to the debate

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Brian Gare, Norfolk:

  240. Theo Bertram, former No 10 advisor

    @theobertram

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: The last debates were macho. The live performance, tribalism, post-match analysis & absence of women felt like watching Sky Sports in a pub."
  241. Get involved

    Text: 61124

    Politics Live reader:

    For those who don't think SNP or Plaid Cymru should be on the debate tonight - have you considered that their policies may well become very relevant to the English voters when we have a hung parliament and the main parties are scraping together a coalition at any cost.

  242. Scaring the markets?

    Daily Politics

    Live on BBC Two

    A Tory-led government thinking of leaving Europe, or an SNP involvement in a Labour coalition. These election outcomes would be "most disruptive for the markets in general", according to Ewen Cameron Watt, from Blackrock Investment. He told the Daily Politics the UK and Europe were used to coalition governments, which would not upset the market, but that "uncertainty and extremes" would. Watch the interview

    Ewen Cameron Watt from Blackrock Investment
  243. Reality Check

    “How easy is it to moderate a debate?”

    In the US, primary debates, where political parties choose their presidential candidate, regularly feature seven or more participants. As the discussion heats up it becomes increasingly important for the moderator to give equal time to each, but does this end up being the case?

    University of Minnesota research shows that it’s not. One seven-way Republican debate in 2011 saw Mitt Romney speaking for a total of 17 minutes 22 seconds. Newt Gingrich on the other hand spoke for only eight minutes 23 seconds. That’s around twice the amount of time to promote policy and engage with viewers.

    Some in the US believe the media deliberately favours the frontrunners. Indeed, Romney spoke for the longest amount of time in six of the nine monitored debates and went on to win the nomination.

  244. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Reg, Fife:

    All these party leaders on one stage sounds too chaotic. They should just turn it into an election edition of ''Pointless''.

  245. Another hung parliament?

    Over at the Spectator, political editor James Forsyth says the emphasis being put on a hung parliament after 7 May could change the way people vote. He cites figures from the British Election Study which suggest that if voters think no one will win an overall majority at the election, there’ll be more support for the minor parties. Read more of what he has to say here.

  246. Get involved

    Text: 61124

    Wayne, Bishops Stortford:

    Debate question. I'd like to know why rail companies are allowed to sponge money for investment from the taxpayer and passengers when traditionally private sector investment comes from selling shares.

  247. Matt Sterling

    @MSterling27

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: Prediction for tonight: British public left conflicted after agreeing with Greens/SNP/PC ideas but knowing they won't get in #leadersdebate
  248. 'Inheritors of original communist tradition'

    Daily Politics

    BBC Two

    The Community Party of Britain dates back to 1920 and is fielding nine general election candidates. General Secretary Rob Griffiths spoke to Jo Coburn about the party's view of Ed Miliband, and past Labour leaders, and links between the largest political parties and business. He said the party was the inheritor of the "original communist tradition", how it opposed the Common Market and EU, was against Nato, but it backed devolved parliaments for Scotland and Wales. Watch the interview

    Rob Griffiths
  249. Jason Groves, Daily Mail deputy political editor

    @JasonGroves1

    tweets : Sky News asks Nick Clegg if he can revive Cleggmania tonight. 'I doubt it,' he replies mournfully

  250. In the spotlight

    Nick Clegg in Cheadle Hulme

    There's plenty of attention on Nick Clegg as he visits first aid charity Millie's Trust in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire.

  251. Ready for combat?

    The Huffington Post

    Huffington Post

    What odds on this happening later? The Huffington Post has been inspired by David Cameron joking with schoolchildren about using jiu-jitsu during the TV debate. For the record. the PM said there would be "no bodily contact".

  252. Add to the debate

    Text: 61124

    Politics Live viewer:

    Blimey the debate is the Weakest Link! Where's Anne Robinson?

  253. Christopher Hope, Assistant Editor and Chief Political Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph

    @christopherhope

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: I should say also that the Conservatives are also keeping themselves to themselves and us journalists at arms length during #GE2015. Rubbish."
  254. Sure Start spat

    BBC Radio 4's World at One

    Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has dismissed as "utter nonsense" Labour's claims the Conservatives would close 1,000 Sure Start centres.

    Labour education spokesman Tristram Hunt told BBC Radio 4's World at One that 760 Sure Start centres had closed since 2010, and more were under threat of future spending cuts planned by the Conseratives.

    But Mr Pickles retorted that Labour had its figures wrong, and that the government had invested more money in childcare.

  255. Chris Cook, BBC News lead studio director

    @chrisckmedia

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: It's @MediaCityUK 's chance to shine tonight. #leadersdebate #GE2015"
  256. Andrew Neil's campaign report

    Andrew Neil

    Daily and Sunday Politics

    Andrew Neil looks forward to the televised debate between seven political leaders in Salford. Ahead of the two-hour debate, most the key campaign figures are in northern England. David Cameron and Ed Miliband were talking tax and business, while Nick Clegg was in the news over a poll suggesting he was at risk of losing his Sheffield seat. Nigel Farage was was taking questions on immigration targets from BBC Radio 4. Watch the Daily Politics presenter's daily film on the key figures' activities, and the day's political headlines.

    Andrew Neil
  257. Alexander

    @homorysm

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Cameron will be held to account tonight. None of the leaders agree with Tory austerity (except Clegg!) #leadersdebate #CheerioCameron
  258. Peer pressure

    House of Lords

    Stepping away from all things debate-related for a moment, Baroness D'Souza, the Speaker of the House of Lords, has penned an article for the Telegraph in which she says peers shouldn't be reluctant to resign.

    It's only recently been the case that members of the Lords have been able to retire, and so far just 20 have chosen to do so; most recently high-profile Conservative peer-turned pollster Lord Ashcroft.

    Lady D'Souza says retirement should be seen as "a condition of membership...a duty as well as a right".

  259. Recalling elections past

    The BBC Archive has some revealing insight into the thoughts of prominent thinkers during past elections. It's fair to say playwright George Bernard Shaw wasn't over-enthused by the 1931 campaign. A clip published via Twitter has him declaring: "There being a general election on, what is happening is that you are all being fooled in every possible manner by every possible sort of candidate."

  260. Add to the debate

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Adam Sutherland:

  261. Egging on the parties

    Nigel Crebbin from Manchester sent us this photo of leadership-themed eggs, created by his son Thomas. Those puns might suggest a newspaper sub-editor in the making...

    General Election eggs
  262. Jack Waldron

    @waldron1994

    Tweets:

    Quote Message: #NigelFarage can't seem to staple down any permananent or clear immigration policy, will #UKIP come under pressure tonight #leadersdebate
  263. Scotland election debate

    Politicians from Scotland's five main parties clashed over the causes of - and possible solutions to - poverty, during last night's BBC Scotland election debate in front of a specially invited studio audience. Catch up on this story here.

  264. Add to the debate

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk:

  265. Westminster watchers

    BBC News Channel

    It doesn't get any better than this for people that follow politics closely, the BBC's chief political correspondent Vicki Young says of tonight's debate. While a lot of people won't be watching the programme, given that it's on the eve of the Easter holidays, it could nonetheless be very important to the election, she adds.

  266. Farage on immigration

    UKIP leader Nigel Farage told the BBC earlier today that he would like to see the number of immigrants to the UK "below 50,000 a year" but that an overall cap on net migration would be "ludicrous". Here's our story.

  267. Body language

    Leaders' body language in tonight's debate will be all important, according to expert Robert Phipps. It will influence the undecided voters most, he says, as those who have already made their minds up will stick with their choice "unless their leader gives a particularly bad performance".

    "The more they can use their bodies to get their message across the more powerful it is, the more emphasis it has."

  268. Send us your comments

    Text: 61124

    Ex-steel worker, North East:

    It is obvious that the SNP is intent on sabotaging our parliament. May I suggest that another referendum is held on Scottish independence and this time give the English a vote. The outcome would give the Scots' independence wishes a certain vote to their dreams. It could also lighten the tax bill of the English.

  269. Add to the debate:

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Justin Stone, Leicester:

  270. Leaders' wives

    The Daily Telegraph

    David Cameron's wife, Samantha, made her first solo campaign outing yesterday. And it's provided the Telegraph's parliamentary sketchwriter with some material for his latest tongue-in-cheek piece.

    The Conservatives took an "important step on the road to victory by sending Samantha Cameron to a school in a blouse", Michael Deacon writes. "The press weren’t invited, but fortunately photographers were, so reporters were able to use their investigative skills to establish that the blouse was raspberry pink and came from Cos."

  271. Add to the debate:

    Email: politics@bbc.co.uk

    Gareth, Isle of Wight

  272. Get involved

    Email politics@bbc.co.uk

    Sheila Rantle:

  273. Get involved

    Text: 61124

    Barry Collier, Wisbech, Cambs:

    Until England gets full devolution, as has been granted to the three other countries with smaller populations, the UK will forever remain ungoovernable. Failure to recognise this will have meant a wasted election.

  274. Get involved

    Email politics@bbc.co.uk

  275. Get involved

    Vic Iyalla, Bromley

  276. Reality Check

    Was migration ever ‘normal’?

    Nigel Farage says he wants net migration to return to "normality". Was migration ever "normal"?

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) keeps annual data on long term international migration going back to the 1960s. The data shows there’s no “normal” level of migration, although there was clearly a big change in migration since the late 1990s - some might even argue that has become the new “normal”.

    The immigration statistic politicians and the media tend to talk about most is net migration - that’s the difference between people moving into the UK (immigration) and people moving out of the UK (emigration).

    From the mid 1960s to the late 1990s, net migration varied but stayed under 100,000. During the 1960s and 1970s it was negative because there were more people emigrating from the UK than coming to live here.

    In the 1980s and early 1990s net migration moved into positive low levels and rose sharply after 1997. Since the mid-2000s, annual net migration has fluctuated between 150,000 and 300,000. Although the level of emigration has increased since the 1990s, this has been out-stripped by immigration, with many more people coming to the UK rather than leaving.

  277. Children's services

    Labour is claiming more than 1,000 centres to help parents with young children face closure, if the Conservatives get back into power.

    The Tories say the claims about Surestart centres are not true.

    Labour's Education spokesman Tristram Hunt said the service has already suffered significant cutbacks under the coalition.

    "Before the last election David Cameron said he wouldn't close any Surestart children's centres.

    "As soon as they are in office they attack those who need support, the most disadvantaged."

    Tristram Hunt
  278. Analysis: from the Labour campaign

    Peter Hunt, the BBC Labour campaign correspondent, is in Bury with Ed Miliband and his team.

    Quote Message: It started well. “I’d like to wish you the best of luck”, a man told Ed Miliband. “That’s a good question”, a laughing Labour leader replied. It continued, in a similar vein, for a good hour. This was a several hundred strong sympathetic audience who’d come to Bury Town Hall to hear one of the two men who’ll be our next prime minister. Labour insist the audience at what they call their People’s Question Time wasn’t hand picked. They say they send invitations to the undecided they meet on the doorstep. Previous encounters, according to them, have featured more hostile interrogators. At this more tame session Mr Miliband answered with ease - and a dose of humour - topics as diverse as housing, the plight of premature babies and Europe. These events - where they’re in control of the guest list - are Labour’s preferred way of putting Ed Miliband on public display.
  279. @Telegraph assistant comment editor Asa Bennett

    @asabenn

    ‏ tweets:

    Quote Message: I'm told Farage "having a couple of G&Ts" before #ITVDebate, also Natalie Bennett is feeling "good"
  280. Politics class

    Pupils at Kings Leadership Academy, in Warrington, are given an outdoor politics lesson from a familiar face.

    David Cameron with pupils from Kings Leadership Academy, Warrington
  281. Analysis: BBC Lib Dem campaign correspondent Chris Buckler

    Quote Message: Trust is clearly a hard thing to find in politics. Ahead of the debates Nick Clegg was asked if he trusted David Cameron. His response was carefully worded. He said 'we found a way of working together'. Then Mr Clegg was asked if thought he could trust Ed Miliband and said 'of course I can imagine circumstances when the Liberal Democrats govern with another party'.
  282. 'Not just words'

    David Cameron says tonight's TV debate is a "big occasion" but he's looking forward to it.

    Quote Message: "The fact is, if you've got a track record, you've got a long-term economic plan that's working, you've got something real to talk about - not just words."
  283. Leaders' debate: SNP voice

    Nicola Sturgeon has given a preview of her pitch for tonight's leaders debate in a one-minute film posted on Facebook.

    The SNP leader says that a vote for the SNP in the general election is a "vote to make Scotland's voice heard like never before".

    Nicola Sturgeon
  284. 'It's me or chaos'

    BBC News Channel

    Lance Price, a former Labour director of communications, says tonight is a chance for the smaller parties to stand up to the bigger ones. He advises they borrow an Ed Miliband line from his interview with Jeremy Paxman:"You're important, but you're not THAT important." He expects David Cameron to say: "It's me or chaos." Mr Miliband will, he says, need to look prime ministerial.

  285. What will viewers watch on Thursday night?

    Political junkies may be counting the hours until the leaders' TV debate on Thursday evening, but not all potential voters will be settling down with a drink and snacks for the two-hour programme. Daily Politics reporter Adam Fleming asked the people of Guildford in Surrey what they have lined up to watch from 8pm when ITV presents seven party leaders vying for their votes. Watch the film

    Adam Fleming with man in Guildford
  286. Ju jitsu with Farage

    David Cameron jokes he might throw in a surprise element to tonight's debate - martial arts with Nigel Farage.

    At a school visit in Warrington, he told one pupil, whose hobby is ju jitsu: "So I get Nigel Farage and get him on the floor?" Afterwards, he reassured the assembled reporters: "It was a joke, there will be no bodily contact tonight."

  287. DUP's annoyance

    BBC News Channel

    BBC correspondent Chris Buckler has been looking at the Northern Ireland election landscape.

    It's possible that the DUP, the Democratic Unionist Party, which was the fourth biggest party in the Commons in the 2010-2015 parliament with eight MPs, could hold the balance of power in the next parliament, he explains.

    The DUP is not part of the leaders' debates tonight: a decision that has angered the party.

    Leader Peter Robinson said his party had been discriminated against by broadcasters.

  288. BBC's Lib Dem campaign correspondent Chris Buckler

    @csbuckler

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Nick Clegg planning to go for "a nice walk" to clear his head ahead of the debate.
    Nick Clegg being questioned
  289. 'Pass the parcel'

    BBC News Channel

    Asked whether he welcomes the seven-way format, Nick Clegg says it reflects the "fragmentation" of British politics. David Cameron and Ed Miliband want to "sustain the fiction" that power alternates between the "blue and red teams" in a sort of "pass the parcel" game. But our politics has become much more fluid and plural than that, he adds.

    Are you doing any last minute homework? A bit, he tells the BBC, "but if the weather holds I hope to go for a nice walk to clear my head".

  290. Miliband direct

    During a question-time session earlier this morning, the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, told an audience that tonight's televised leaders debate is a "very special opportunity" to put his case to the British people.

    Mr Miliband said: "It is a debate but the most important people for me tonight are not the six other leaders, not the moderator, but the British people at home.

    "That's what's unique about the opportunity of these debates - the chance to put my case to them about how the country needs to change."

  291. Order, order

    BBC News Channel

    Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire ahead of tonight's much-trailed debate. He tells the BBC's Ben Brown he's sure all the leaders will be kept in good order if they start to talk over each other during the two-hour session. "I hope everyone will have the opportunity to say their piece," he adds.

  292. 'Clear differentiation'

    BBC News Channel

    Deputy UKIP chairwoman Suzanne Evans says tonight's debate will be the only opportunity for the British people to hear UKIP's point of view. "We've been very disappointed it will be our only chance," she says, but adds that Mr Farage will be able to set out the "clear differentiation" between UKIP and the others: namely that it is the only party advocating withdrawal from the European Union.

    Ms Evans laments that David Cameron has managed to "bully" the broadcasters into" getting his own way" on the format of the debates. She's worried it'll either be a shouting match or "a bore-a-thon".

  293. Iain Watson, BBC's Labour campaign correspondent

    @iainjwatson

    tweets :

    Quote Message: On the debate @Ed_Miliband sidesteps my question on his prep and on if Alistair Campbell's role play as Julie Etchingham made him nervous
  294. Opposition easy ride?

    BBC News Channel

    Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude tells BBC News the election TV debates are more difficult for the prime minister than opposition leaders, who can take "pot shots" at "difficult, unpopular but necessary decisions" that have had to be taken for the good of the country. Shouldn't voters have the chance to see David Cameron and Ed Miliband debate head-to-head? They did last week, in the Paxman grilling, Mr Maude replies, adding that the public enjoyed it.

  295. Callum May, BBC News

    @callummay

    tweets :

    Quote Message: Several people in this audience revealed themselves as Labour members. Big applause for an NHS worker who mentioned Andy Burnham. #ge2015
  296. Making room

    Nigel Farage said earlier this morning that he was "sorry" there are so many people on tonight's debate panel. With the leaders of seven UK parties taking part, the podium certainly is going to be crowded. So how do you stage a seven-way debate? The BBC's Leala Padmanabhan finds out.

  297. Required listening...

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Peter Allen
    Image caption: BBC Radio 5 Live’s Peter Allen is on the leaders’ debate set, ahead of tonight's big event - the station will be broadcasting the debate from 8pm.
  298. Wednesday morning recap

    It's been a busy morning and one mostly dominated by leaders' debate-related chatter. Here's a quick round-up of what's been happening so far:

    • UKIP leader Nigel Farage told BBC Radio 4's Today his party would have a cap of 50,000 people a year coming to Britain, but insisted there would be no cap on net migration
    • The main TV debate of the election will be held tonight , with David Cameron and Ed Miliband sharing the podium with Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Leanne Wood, Natalie Bennett and Nicola Sturgeon. The debate will run for two hours and cover four topics, which have not been revealed
    • In his regular LBC phone in, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg suggested the debate is an opportunity to see who you want to walk into Number 10 with David Cameron or Ed Miliband
    • Labour has a letter in the Guardian endorsed by 100 people from "all walks of life", including actors, business leaders, writers, nurses and low-paid workers. The letter argues that the fundamental choice at the election is whether the country works only for those at the top or for all working people
    • The Muslim Council of Britain has drawn up a list of key commitments they suggest Muslim voters may wish seek from would-be Mps, including "meaningful action" to combat Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and all forms of racism.
  299. 'Making it up'

    Reacting to Nigel Farage's earlier comments on an immigration cap, James Brokenshire, an immigration minister, said: "Nigel Farage makes up his policies as he goes along. One moment it was 50,000, then it was 30,000 and then there was nothing at all. It’s very difficult to put any credibility on anything that UKIP say."

  300. BBC Radio 5 live

    @bbc5live

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Here’s a high-tech mock-up of what tonight’s #leadersdebate will look like. Thanks @BBCNormanS
    Lego mock-up
  301. Theo Bertram, former adviser to Gordon Brown, on the debates

    @theobertram

    tweets

    Quote Message: First 30mins most important. The lobby and the spin doctors don't watch the last 15mins but start talking to each other instead.
  302. Miliband Q&A

    Ed Miliband
    Image caption: Mr Miliband listens patiently as one audience member takes his time to ask a question
  303. Question time

    Ed Miliband is now taking questions from the audience. Friendly questions so far, including one praising the Labour leader's performance when he was being questioned by Channel 4's interrogator Jeremy Paxman.

  304. Any nerves?

    Labour leader Ed Miliband is now conducting one of his people's question time sessions in Bury.

    BBC's Labour campaign correspondent Iain Watson says that Mr Miliband will be visiting the debate set this afternoon - but not at the same time as his opponents.

    Aides insist he is no more nervous than he would be appearing at his regular People's Question Time events. But he has certainly had more practice - mostly with his own staff though also with Alistair Campbell, Iain adds.

  305. Bury arrival

    Ed Miliband arrives in Bury
    Image caption: Labour party leader Ed Miliband and Labour parliamentary candidate for Bury North James Frith meet four-year-old Jennifer Talbot Bagnall at Bury town hall
  306. Analysis: from the Conservative campaign

    Carole Walker

    Conservative campaign correspondent

    David Cameron spent much of yesterday preparing for tonight’s debate and after a campaign visit to a school this morning he will continue the process. Aides point out that he can already draw on the experience of the weekly sessions of Prime Minister’s Questions and more than one hundred of the Cameron Direct meetings with the public which he has held around the country since he took power.

    The leaders drew lots for their positions and Mr Cameron will be on the far right of the line-up. That suits his strategy of trying to portray himself as the Prime Minister who’s long-term economic plans have turned around the economy versus the chaos which he says would result if any combination of his rivals ends up in power. There is the danger though that they will all gang up on him forcing a slip-up or unfortunate phrase. Under the harsh lights of the TV studio he can expect little sympathy.

  307. SNP hopes for debate

    BBC News Channel

    The SNP's Angus Robertson says the format of tonight's debate is not going to provide a knockout blow or one winner over six others - but it will be an interesting shop front, for people to see SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.

    "Like all politicians she's been preparing for the debate," he says - and she's been talking to advisers about the different dynamics and how you can use your time effectively to get your message across, he says.

    You'll be able to watch Nicola Sturgeon at first minister's question time in Holyrood at 12pm.

  308. Chris Ship, ITV News deputy political editor

    @chrisshipitv

    tweets:

    Quote Message: The #leadersdebate studio is also home to #thevoiceuk <Maybe you can all turn around when you hear something you like
    The Voice chair
  309. Farage's busy morning

    Sky News

    UKIP leader Nigel Farage has continued his tour of the media studios this morning, appearing on Sky News a little earlier. Asked about tonight, he said: "I'm feeling pretty good and I'm pleased at least there is a debate." He said he'd be asking the prime minister and other party leaders to admit that, as members of the European Union, "we cannot have an immigration policy of any kind at all".

  310. Today's timetable cont...

    BBC News Channel

    Conservative campaign correspondent Carole Walker, on the Tory campaign bus, says the team is on its way to a school in the north-west. She says the Conservative leader will spend much of the day resuming preparations for tonight.

    David Cameron is going to be on the right of the line-up of leaders and Carole says she's been told he's pretty happy with that position. The strategy is for Mr Cameron to repeat the message that "you have a long-term economic plan with me as prime minister".

  311. Election gameshow

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Ever wondered what the leaders' debate would be like if it was a game show? Well, wonder no more. "Voice of the balls" Alan Dedicoat introduces the contestants for tonight's show.

  312. Today's timetable

    BBC News Channel

    From Bury, the BBC's Labour campaign correspondent Iain Watson reports on the Labour leader's movements ahead of tonight's big event.

    Ed Miliband is doing a People's Question Time event this evening - the best way to practice ahead of the debate, perhaps? Iain says about the leaders' debate itself: "He knows it is crucial. The main thing is not to mess up and not to set a negative tone for the remaining five weeks."

  313. Recap: Farage interview

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    If you missed Nigel Farage's interview on the Today programme earlier, you can watch (it's on webcam) the whole thing back here. The UKP leader was challenged over his party's policy on immigration and problems encountered with candidates.

    Nigel Farage
  314. 'Fruity language'

    LBC

    In the final moments of today's Call Clegg, LBC presenter Nick Ferrari offers the Lib Dem leader some pointers for tonight's debate. He suggests he should open with a joke, "perhaps a dirty gag", roll his eyes, generally look disinterested, "and some fruity language whenever you can". Nick Clegg admits he was intending to pursue a different approach, but he says he'll take his advice on board.

    We'll be watching...

  315. Business letter reaction

    LBC

    Asked about Wednesday's Telegraph letter by business leaders, Nick Clegg notes that the signatories said the greatest risk to the economy was a departure from the course set over the past five years. I agree with that assertion, he says, but I strongly disagree that a Conservative-only government would maintain the current course,as they want to "lurch off" to a different direction and impose ideological cuts to spending.

  316. Muslim voters

    The Muslim Council of Britain estimates there are more than 40 constituencies where the votes of Muslims "can make a difference" to the outcome.

    The document, Fairness Not Favours, quotes the 2011 Census, which puts the Muslim population in England and Wales at 2,706,066 (with 77,000 Muslims in Scotland and 4,000 in Northern Ireland). There are 26 parliamentary constituencies with a Muslim population of 20% or more. There is also a sizeable Muslim presence in several marginal constituencies.

  317. Clash over aid target

    LBC

    Nick Clegg goes head-to-head with a caller over the coalition's commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on international development aid. The caller isn't happy with the policy - and says British taxpayers don't want their money being spent in that way. "We're not going to agree on this, but you can't dismiss it as total rubbish," Mr Clegg responds, adding: "You can have your views but don't claim you're speaking for absolutely everybody."

  318. Rainbow coalitions

    LBC

    On a scale of one to 10 how grumpy was Gordon Brown when you met him after the last election, LBC presenter Nick Ferrari asks Nick Clegg. The Lib Dem leader says he was "good tempered and perfectly gracious". At one point Mr Brown - who was then prime minister - was very adamant he could create some kind of rainbow coalition, he reveals, but Nick Clegg says he told him it wouldn't work. It wouldn't work this time round either, he adds.

  319. Lib-Lab coalition?

    LBC

    Nick Clegg refuses to be drawn on whether Lib Dem peer Lord Ashdown, a former leader of the Lib Dems, wanted a Lib Dem-Labour coalition back in 2010. He does say the party wanted to explore all available options. But he adds there was never any arithmetical possibility of doing a deal as the numbers didn't add up.

  320. Christian vote

    LBC

    What can the Lib Dems offer Christian voters? Nick Clegg says he is not a man of faith but his family are. He goes on to say that one of the values central to British liberalism is a belief in treating everyone fairly and giving people the same chance in life. "I think that is a good instinct, because it's all about making sure that where politicians can, politicians and government play a role in giving opportunity to everybody and on the most equal basis possible."

  321. Welcome cuppa

    Nick Clegg
    Image caption: Nick Clegg takes a quick slurp from his mug, in between calls
  322. Voter feedback

    LBC

    I'm going to struggle to vote for you again, Nick Clegg is told by one caller who voted for the Lib Dems in the 2010 election. He's unhappy at some of the measures introduced which "go against your Liberal Democrat values", the caller tells Mr Clegg.

    The Lib Dem leader responds with a defence of his party's record in government. He says what's different about this election, "which will loom large in tonight's debate", is that people are acknowledging "no-one is going to win outright this time either". So you have to choose which party you prefer and which politicians you want working together after 7 May, he tells the caller. The Lib Dems will keep a future government in the centre ground, he adds.

  323. The Spectator's James Forsyth

    ‏@JGForsyth

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Voters don’t want a 2nd coalition but they're more likely 2 back a minor party if they think they’ll be a hung parli http://bit.ly/1MDZlz4
  324. Clegg phone-in

    LBC

    Nick Clegg is in the hot seat over at LBC radio, where he's taking part in his weekly radio phone-in - and he's facing the wrath of one caller who's accusing him of not answering his question.

    What's it on? The balance of payments deficit. But the Lib Dem leader insists the crucial fiscal issue is ensuring day-to-day spending is paid for, and no borrowing is required, rather than the balance of trade.

  325. Patrick Wintour, political editor of The Guardian

    @patrickwintour

    tweets:

    Quote Message: Beyond the Westminster bubble, nobody cares about the TV debates http://gu.com/p/476yg/stw
  326. Bromance over...

    BBC News Channel

    On Election Today, guests Anne McElvoy, from the Economist, and Ian Dunt, from Politics.co.uk, are discussing the debates. Will anyone be discussing anything else today?

    Nick Clegg has a difficult job tonight, says Anne McElvoy. He has to say: yes we have been part of this coalition but there's been a bit of a bitter record there. "It's a long way from that bromance," she says.

  327. Listen!

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Diana Mather, etiquette and media coach, sounds a note of caution against the leaders being rude, as "it really turns people off" - citing Prime Minister's Questions as an example. They must also listen to what others are saying, she stresses, rather than trotting out pre-prepared lines. First of all, it's good manners, she says, but it will also help them to come across as more natural and passionate.

  328. 'Zingers'

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Andrew Caesar-Gordon, managing director of media training company Electric Airwaves, says the leaders won't have much time to develop complex arguments in tonight's debate, so they'll be looking to craft soundbites and catchy one-liners, known in the US as "zingers" - as these will be crucial in the next day's coverage.

  329. Iain Watson, the BBC's Labour Campaign Correspondent

    @iainjwatson

    tweets:

    Quote Message: En route to 'People's Question Time' in Bury - Labour select the audience but insist it's mostly swing voters #ge2015
    Shot of motorway from Labour's campaign bus
  330. Points ahead?

    BBC News Channel

    On Election Today, YouGov President Peter Kellner looks at the polls ahead of the leaders' debate.

    Can the debate tonight make a difference? "It can make a difference if one of the main candidates does extraordinarily well or extraordinarily badly," he says.

    The instant polls will tell us what people think straight after the debate, unmediated and uninfluenced by any other coverage.

    Subsequent polls, he says, are influenced by the media in the following days. "It could be a game changer," he concludes.

  331. 'Nobody cares'

    The Guardian

    "Apart from the tiny (and profoundly unrepresentative) cross-section of the electorate who are partisan activists and political true-believers, nobody cares [about the TV debate]," writes Andrew Cooper, a Conservative peer and director of polling company Populus, in The Guardian. Given that tonight's debate is taking place on the eve of the Easter holidays, he may well have a point there...

  332. UKIP's tactics

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Put to him that UKIP's position is not looking as "rosy" as it did at the end of last year, Nigel Farage says 2014 was a "remarkable" year, but concedes the party has dipped slightly since then. However, he notes that Ofcom has ruled UKIP a major party, and adds: "UKIP will succeed or fail in this general election depending on the number of people who didn't vote in 2010. Can I get those people who didn't vote in 2010 but who agree with me to turn out on 7 May. That's the key."

  333. Nigel Farage on Radio 4 Today

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Nigel Farage
    Image caption: The UKIP leader was questioned by presenter Mishal Husain
  334. 'Weed out'

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Mr Farage is challenged over the loss of several of his party's election candidates who have got into trouble over inappropriate comments. The UKIP leader contends that when a UKIP candidate says something bad it's a major news story, and claims the same level of scrutiny is not applied to other parties.

    "I'm not saying everyone in the party is perfect - far from it," he says and he explains "we weed out" anyone who does something inappropriate.

  335. Better off?

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Nigel Farage does not accept the premise put to him that the UK could be poorer with lower immigration. "But if you said to me that if we carry on with current immigration our population hits 75 million, but, we'll all be better off, I'd prefer not to better off and have a country that didn't go to 75 million where young people could aspire to buy houses and British families could get jobs and a different standard of living."

    Some things matter more than money, he adds.

  336. 'Tied up with caps'

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    After further questioning from presenter Mishal Husain, Mr Farage accepts he would like to see 50,000 migrants or fewer coming to the UK each year, "simple as that".

    But the UKIP leader adds: "This whole debate, we've been tied up with caps for five years, it's devalued the debate." What we're not addressing, he adds, is that we have no control over the numbers that settle in the UK all the while we're members of the European Union.

  337. Norman Smith, BBC's assistant political editor

    @BBCNormanS

    tweets: Thank god they got the apostrophe right ! #tvdebates#grammaralert

    ITV studio
  338. Immigration target?

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Earlier this week, Mr Farage said he wanted immigration to return to "normal" levels. So what are the numbers, he is asked.

    You can't have a cap for net migration because you cannot stop people leaving the country which is why figures are "impossible", the UKIP leader responds. He adds that the UK doesn't need any more unskilled migrant labour as "there's enough already" and it has driven down wages for Britons - before advocating an Australian-style points-based system.

  339. Farage interview

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    UKIP leader Nigel Farage is on the Today programme, and he's asked about comments that children cannot play in the streets, because society isn't at ease with itself because of immigration.

    Mr Farage says he said nothing of the kind. "I want us to live in a society that is integrated," he tells Today. He says there are segregated communities today because of uncontrolled immigration. Asked where exactly, he says, "travel up the eastern spine of England, go to Peterborough". He says he's arguing for a responsible immigration policy that allows communities to integrate.

  340. Game changer?

    Norman Smith

    Assistant political editor

    Tonight's debate is significant because it is the only time in this campaign the party leaders will go head to head. And while part of this evening's debate is tightly structured - part has what all politicians dread - the unknown and entirely unpredictable.

    Nigel Farage has already said he wants to challenge David Cameron over immigration. Nicola Sturgeon to tackle Ed Miliband over austerity. Here lies the potential for an unexpected election moment. Could that change this campaign? Perhaps - but Nick Clegg enjoyed a significant boost after his performances during the last election debates - the impact, though, faded and did not fundamentally change the course of the election.

  341. Inside the studio...

    BBC Breakfast

    The BBC's Ross Hawkins has a sneak preview inside the ITV studios where tonight's debates are being held.

    The podiums are set close together, he points out, but the prime minister and Ed Miliband are some distance apart. "I'm told there's nothing in the election rules that have been drawn up for these debates that are going to stop those two having an argument," he explains.

    And he says the studio, which isn't that big, will feel intimate. The final word will fall to David Cameron - that's a pretty big advantage to have, Ross says.

    Debate studio
  342. How will the debate work?

    Each politician will be allowed to give an uninterrupted one minute answer to a series of four questions posed by members of the studio audience, before the debate is opened up.

    There will then be up to 18 minutes of debate on each question; in all four "substantial election questions" will be addressed.

    Leaders will not have advance sight of the questions and an "experienced editorial panel" will select them.

  343. How will the debate work?

    After a draw for places on the podium, the Green Party's Natalie Bennett will take the left-hand position followed, from left to right, by Nick Clegg for the Liberal Democrats, UKIP's Nigel Farage, Labour leader Ed Miliband, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Conservative leader David Cameron.

    Ms Bennett will speak first in the opening statements of the debate and Mr Cameron will speak last.

  344. And the winner is...

    Nick Robinson

    Political editor

    Who won? That is the question everyone will ask at 10pm tonight, so before anyone answers perhaps we should pause and ask something else: what on earth does winning a TV debate really mean? And how will we know? My look-ahead to tonight's debate.

  345. UKIP challenge

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Election forecasters are predicting UKIP will win between 10% and 13% of the national vote at the election, and take anywhere between one and five seats, Matthew Goodwin tells the Today programme. But he says UKIP is likely to have an indirect impact on the election result as well, by affecting the outcome in seats even if it is not actually winning them.

  346. UKIP appeal

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Matthew Goodwin, Associate Professor of Politics at Nottingham University and co-author of Revolt on the Right - about the rise of UKIP as a political force - is on the Today programme, talking about UKIP's poll ratings. He says the party's core base is holding "quite steady", and is more resilient than thought last year.

    Between 13% and 15% of the electorate feel "very positive" towards UKIP, he says, but he notes that its appeal has dwindled from about 18%-19% since last autumn's by-elections. However, he thinks Nigel Farage is "probably feeling reasonably confident" going into the election campaign, as his party only needs to poll about 9% of the national vote to have "a tangible impact" on the outcome of the election.

  347. Report from Great Yarmouth

    BBC Breakfast

    BBC Breakfast is reporting from Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk this morning. The topic under discussion: immigration. Residents of the traditional seaside town tell the BBC about the big changes in the town, largely from the influx of EU migrants who have come to the town to work in food processing and on local farms.

    Great Yarmouth
  348. Farage interview

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Coming up at 8.10am, UKIP leader Nigel Farage speaks to the Today programme ahead of his appearance in the leaders debate tonight.

    Nigel Farage
  349. Analysis: what do the polls show?

    David Cowling, editor, BBC Political Research

    Pretty slim pickings: YouGov delivered a one point Labour lead - 36% compared with 35% for the Conservatives, with the Lib Dems on 7%, UKIP on 12% and the Greens on 5%.

    But maybe time to remind ourselves that the crucial bit we often miss is that the real significance of these polls is not where they are now but what is the difference between now and the 2010 general election.

    YouGov suggests neck and neck at present; but 36% for Labour is up 6% on 2010: 35% for the Conservatives now is down 2% on 2010. So, what appears neck and neck is, in reality, a 4% swing from Conservative to Labour since the last election: a swing that would take Labour into largest single party territory and well on its way towards a majority of its own (Scotland permitting).

    As we navigate our way through all those polls to come, remember to measure every one of them against the crucial 2010 figures: Conservative 37%, Labour 30%, Lib Dem 24%, UKIP 3% and Green 1%.

  350. Ross Hawkins, BBC political correspondent

    @rosschawkins

    tweets:Red sky in the morning, politicians' warning, welcome to Manchester #bbcbreakfast

    Red Sky in Manchester
  351. Welsh row

    Ahead of the leaders' debate, Welsh political parties have been arguing over who best represents Wales' interests. Plaid Cymru said its leader, Leanne Wood, who will be taking part in the event, would give Wales a "real voice" in the discussion, but the Welsh Conservatives accused Plaid of being "out of touch". Read our story here.

  352. The papers

    The Times

    The Times leads on jitters hitting the markets yesterday, as analysts warned investors that Britain faces the prospect of a weak and ineffective government after a dead heat election.

  353. Multi-party politics

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Tonight's debate is a visible, symbolic demonstration of the death of two-party politics, Norman Smith tells the Today programme. "It's the visual evidence of a multi-party era," he adds.

  354. Leaders' debate

    ITV studios
    Image caption: ITV presenter Julie Etchingham prepares in front of the lecterns set up for the seven-way leaders' debate
  355. 'Unguided missile moment'

    BBC Radio 4 Today

    Our assistant political editor, Norman Smith, says there is the potential for "complete and utter pandemonium" in tonight's debate, because there will be up to 18 minutes of "free-flowing debate" which has the potential for a bun fight between the leaders. "That really may be the moment of this debate," he tells the Today programme, because the key ingredient is "the unguided missile moment".

    "It has what all political leaders and their aides dread and seek to avoid, namely the unpredictable, the uncertain and the unknown. And in that seven-way free-for-all no-one knows what on earth is going to happen."

  356. The papers

    The Daily Mail

    The Daily Mail leads on what it calls "Red Ed's zero hours hypocrisy". He promised on Wednesday to end casual employment contracts; but the Mail says that Labour councils and MPs hire many workers on zero-hours contracts.

  357. This morning's papers

    The Guardian

    A quick look at this morning's papers, which are perhaps unsurprisingly dominated by the letter in Wednesday's Telegraph from business leaders. The Guardian says Labour offered a "counter punch" to the "potentially damaging" letter with a letter of its own from what the party described as a true cross-section of British society

  358. TV debates

    The contest, announced after weeks of wrangling, will be the only time Conservative PM David Cameron and Labour's Ed Miliband will face one another in a debate before polling day. The Lib Dems, SNP, UKIP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens will also take part. Here's our story.

  359. Good morning

    Welcome to our live coverage of all the day's events. It's Georgina and Pippa in the hot seat, bringing you all the latest. There are 35 days to go before the general election, and the set piece of today's campaigning is the seven-way leaders' debate broadcast tonight on ITV at 8pm.