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
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."
Perhaps dividing lines were blurred by the very nature of a seven-way debate."
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.
Telegraph front page
TelegraphCopyright: Telegraph
The Times front page
The TimesCopyright: The Times
Independent front page
IndependentCopyright: Independent
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.
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%.
Snap poll results
Here is a summary of the snap polls carried out after tonight's leaders' debate.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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."
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."
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.
TwitterCopyright: Twitter
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".
Heckler
PACopyright: PA
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Quote Message: Move the HofC to Salford. They all seem to be enjoying themselves up here #mediacity #leadersdabate @bbcqt
Move the HofC to Salford. They all seem to be enjoying themselves up here #mediacity #leadersdabate @bbcqt
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.
Latest from Salford
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
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.
Nigel Morris, Deputy Poltical Editor, The Independent
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
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
Question Time panel
BBCCopyright: BBC
Sturgeon most tweeted
AFPCopyright: AFP
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
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.
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%
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%
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%
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%.
Quote Message: @TwitterUK say over 1.4 million tweets were sent about #leadersdebate. Most tweeted moment? Farage's comments on HIV.
@TwitterUK say over 1.4 million tweets were sent about #leadersdebate. Most tweeted moment? Farage's comments on HIV.
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%.
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.
House of Commons LibraryCopyright: House of Commons Library
'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.
Quote Message: Osborne handed mobile by comms chief Craig Oliver, showing him YouGov poll that Sturgeon won, Cam 2nd. Osborne beams
Osborne handed mobile by comms chief Craig Oliver, showing him YouGov poll that Sturgeon won, Cam 2nd. Osborne beams
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.
Send us your comments
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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.
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.
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%
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!
Quote Message: Warning: in the next half hour you will hear some quite ridiculous spin from all sides. Ignore it. #leadersdebate
Warning: in the next half hour you will hear some quite ridiculous spin from all sides. Ignore it. #leadersdebate
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.
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.
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".
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?
GETTY IMAGESCopyright: GETTY IMAGES
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.
Quote Message: @julieetchitv Has Done An Excellent Job Tonight @GdnPolitics #leadersdebate @itvnews @ITV #MediaCity #nicolasturgeon #DavidCameron #GE15
@julieetchitv Has Done An Excellent Job Tonight @GdnPolitics #leadersdebate @itvnews @ITV #MediaCity #nicolasturgeon #DavidCameron #GE15
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).
Quote Message: Sturgeon - little known across much of the UK outside Scotland - more than holding own in heavyweight company. Debate has worked for her.
Sturgeon - little known across much of the UK outside Scotland - more than holding own in heavyweight company. Debate has worked for her.
'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".
Add to the debate
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Susan Hollywood, Belfast:
Email Message:
The quality of debate shown by Nicola Sturgeon leaves both Cameron and Milliband looking second rate. This format does work and forces greater debate. If it was just Milliband, Clegg and Cameron it would be a trading of statistics,attacks and constant reference to what each party promises or what they have done or not done. The other parties force the politicians back to ideas and the importance of values. Really good.
The quality of debate shown by Nicola Sturgeon leaves both Cameron and Milliband looking second rate. This format does work and forces greater debate. If it was just Milliband, Clegg and Cameron it would be a trading of statistics,attacks and constant reference to what each party promises or what they have done or not done. The other parties force the politicians back to ideas and the importance of values. Really good.
Quote Message: Is Cameron failing to insert himself in debate because he's been told not to? Or too unsure of himself?
Is Cameron failing to insert himself in debate because he's been told not to? Or too unsure of himself?
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".
Quote Message: @BBCPolitics Nick Clegg asking Ed M to apologise for crashing the economy, not good, gimmicky #leadersdebate #GetAnswers
@BBCPolitics Nick Clegg asking Ed M to apologise for crashing the economy, not good, gimmicky #leadersdebate #GetAnswers
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.
Quote Message: Miliband has given the population more eye contact in this debate than most have had on romantic dates.
Miliband has given the population more eye contact in this debate than most have had on romantic dates.
Household income
This chart shows household income by age group
BBCCopyright: BBC
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."
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.
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.
Send us your views
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Fran Clark:
Email Message:
Re students fees. Was it not Labour who brought in student tuition fees?
Re students fees. Was it not Labour who brought in student tuition fees?
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.
Quote Message: More than EIGHTY PERCENT of #leadersdebate tweets focus on personality not politics.
More than EIGHTY PERCENT of #leadersdebate tweets focus on personality not politics.
DemosCopyright: Demos
Health 'tourism'
You can review that clash between Nigel Farage, Leanne Wood and Nicola Sturgeon over health tourism via our online clip.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'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.
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%.
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".
Quote Message: Not sure "Tough on AIDS victims" is going to be a popular campaign slogan. #LeadersDebate
Not sure "Tough on AIDS victims" is going to be a popular campaign slogan. #LeadersDebate
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.
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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?
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?
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:
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.
'We got it wrong'
We did get it wrong on immigration, says Ed Miliband, "and I have changed our approach".
Quote Message: Agree with @NicolaSturgeon that #Scotland should not be taken out of #Europe against it's will #leadersdebate
Agree with @NicolaSturgeon that #Scotland should not be taken out of #Europe against it's will #leadersdebate
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.
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!
#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!
Quote Message: Natalie Bennett separating herself from SNP with great follow up to families broken up by immigration. Well played. #ge2015 #leadersdebate
Natalie Bennett separating herself from SNP with great follow up to families broken up by immigration. Well played. #ge2015 #leadersdebate
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.
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%).
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.
Post update
REXCopyright: REX
'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.
'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.
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.
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'".
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%)
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.
Quote Message: Ironically in Thanet where Nigel Farage is standing, immigration is considerably LOWER than the rest of the country! #leadersdebate #GE2015
Ironically in Thanet where Nigel Farage is standing, immigration is considerably LOWER than the rest of the country! #leadersdebate #GE2015
'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.
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".
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.
Quote Message: I've had six texts from upbeat Tories already. This time last week? Nada.
I've had six texts from upbeat Tories already. This time last week? Nada.
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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.
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.
Free social care?
Natalie Bennett says the Green Party would offer free social care to over 65s who need it.
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.
Quote Message: Is that BBC worm calibrated too generously ? Barely any negative response. unless the sample group just loves seven different politicians
Is that BBC worm calibrated too generously ? Barely any negative response. unless the sample group just loves seven different politicians
More on A&E waiting
Our graphic shows the NHS's performance against waiting time targets in England.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
Quote Message: Farage opting to join the ministry of silly faces here. Pulls epic face when Sturgeon says he’s blaming everything on immigrants
Farage opting to join the ministry of silly faces here. Pulls epic face when Sturgeon says he’s blaming everything on immigrants
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".
Quote Message: @NicolaSturgeon wins the debate because she is feisty !!! #leadersdebate
@NicolaSturgeon wins the debate because she is feisty !!! #leadersdebate
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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.
HIV treatment
Leanne Wood accuses Nigel Farage of "dangerous scaremongering" after he raises the cost of treating foreigners who are HIV positive.
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?
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.
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.
Pic: Facing the audience
ITVCopyright: ITV
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".
Quote Message: Farage's challenge to the establishment diverted twice now into Bennett's far left cul de sac.
Farage's challenge to the establishment diverted twice now into Bennett's far left cul de sac.
'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".
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.
Watch again: Clegg v Cameron
You can review that spat between Nick Clegg and David Cameron over their respective approaches to cutting the deficit.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'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.
Quote Message: Hope they've got a water refiller in that room. They're all gulping it down #leadersdebate
Hope they've got a water refiller in that room. They're all gulping it down #leadersdebate
'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.
Quote Message: I must confess that this GB #leadersdebate is 100 times more entertaining than US election debates. #GetAnswers
I must confess that this GB #leadersdebate is 100 times more entertaining than US election debates. #GetAnswers
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.
NHS
How will the leaders secure the future of the NHS, is the next question from 63-year-old Terry Kelly.
Quote Message: Good to hear @NicolaSturgeon asking @David_Cameron where cuts to benefits will fall. #disabilitybenefits #LeadersDebates #GE2015
Good to hear @NicolaSturgeon asking @David_Cameron where cuts to benefits will fall. #disabilitybenefits #LeadersDebates #GE2015
Pic: Making a point
ITVCopyright: ITV
'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."
Have your say
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Sally Wilson
Email Message: Are we watching 15 to 1? Let's see three lights and a few eliminations, for a more interesting debate!
Are we watching 15 to 1? Let's see three lights and a few eliminations, for a more interesting debate!
Pic: Natalie Bennett, Green leader
ITVCopyright: ITV
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."
Send us your comments
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
S. Slade:
Email Message: Cameron rattled - under pressure, with no answers. All the others doing well. Ed, Nicola and Natalie seem to care about what happens to ordinary people.
Cameron rattled - under pressure, with no answers. All the others doing well. Ed, Nicola and Natalie seem to care about what happens to ordinary people.
Pic: Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader
ITVCopyright: ITV
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.
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.
Quote Message: 20 mins into debate I'm struggling fight fight fight #GetAnswers
20 mins into debate I'm struggling fight fight fight #GetAnswers
Pic: Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader
ITVCopyright: ITV
'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.
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.
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.
Quote Message: So is Ed Milliband actually going to say HOW he is going to do all these things? #GetAnswers
So is Ed Milliband actually going to say HOW he is going to do all these things? #GetAnswers
Reality Check
Wages falling behind bills?
ONSCopyright: ONS
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.
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.
Pic: David Cameron, Conservative leader
ITVCopyright: ITV
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".
Pic: Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader
ITVCopyright: ITV
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.
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.
Quote Message: Farage also looking sweaty now. Someone turn the air con on. Or get them a towel in the ad break. #leadersdabate
Farage also looking sweaty now. Someone turn the air con on. Or get them a towel in the ad break. #leadersdabate
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".
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.
'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.
Quote Message: Opening statement verdict: Farage and Sturgeon 8 out of 10, the winners. #leadersdebate
Opening statement verdict: Farage and Sturgeon 8 out of 10, the winners. #leadersdebate
'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.
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
'Let's not go back to square one: Britain can do so much better than that' - Dave half-inches Ed's line #leaderdebate
First question
The first question is about how the leaders will cut the deficit while protecting public services.
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.
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.
Tonight's format
ITVCopyright: ITV
Host Julie Etchingham explains that the leaders will now face questions from the audience.
Leanne Wood
In a hung Parliament, Plaid Cymru can "win for Wales" says Leanne Wood.
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.
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.
Quote Message: 30 seconds is all it took nigel to say europe #GE2015 #leadersdebate
30 seconds is all it took nigel to say europe #GE2015 #leadersdebate
Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon says the SNP will work with other "parties of like mind" to end the "bedroom tax" and protect the NHS.
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.
Post update
ITVCopyright: ITV
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".
'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.
Quote Message: Nothing says 'whoop! eve of bank holiday' like two solid hours of seven-way political debate, does it? #debate2015
Nothing says 'whoop! eve of bank holiday' like two solid hours of seven-way political debate, does it? #debate2015
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.
Add to the debate
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Wayne Roff:
Email Message: So tonight is the night of the big leaders' debate. Which of these leaders will be spending most of their time attacking the other parties and their past record, rather then telling us what their party stands for and will do for this country? I don't want to hear about the past, what is done is done. It's our future I want to know about and how their actions would improve the lives of all those living in the UK
So tonight is the night of the big leaders' debate. Which of these leaders will be spending most of their time attacking the other parties and their past record, rather then telling us what their party stands for and will do for this country? I don't want to hear about the past, what is done is done. It's our future I want to know about and how their actions would improve the lives of all those living in the UK
Quote Message: Great @KayBurley slap down to @George_Osborne on @SkyNews : "Don't try and soft-soap me." #leadersdebate
Great @KayBurley slap down to @George_Osborne on @SkyNews : "Don't try and soft-soap me." #leadersdebate
Five minute warning
GettyCopyright: Getty
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
'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.
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
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
SNP influence
Stewart Hosie of the SNP says he doubts leader Nicola Sturgeon is nervous.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Quote Message: The first thing is, because this debate's happening at all, the two-party political system is gone"
The first thing is, because this debate's happening at all, the two-party political system is gone"
Quote Message: Spin room: Clegg message to voters they're not just deciding between DC/EdM but also potential pact/coalition allies"
Spin room: Clegg message to voters they're not just deciding between DC/EdM but also potential pact/coalition allies"
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".
Quote Message: Ever been in shop with loads of people u think you know then realise they are off the telly #mediacity #mediascrum#electiondebate"
Ever been in shop with loads of people u think you know then realise they are off the telly #mediacity #mediascrum#electiondebate"
'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."
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."
Clegg's here
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had a smile for the cameras as he arrived at the studio.
Quote Message: I've raced to get near a telly to watch tonight's leaders debate. It better be riveting. #GE2015
I've raced to get near a telly to watch tonight's leaders debate. It better be riveting. #GE2015
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".
The Camerons arrive
And here's Prime Minister David Cameron, with wife Samantha, hot on the heels of the Lib Dem leader.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Clegg at Media City
We're hearing that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has just arrived at the Salford debate venue.
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"
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"
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."
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.
AFPCopyright: AFP
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
.
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".
BBCCopyright: BBC
Feathers flying?
The Mirror Chicken - the newspaper's mischief maker-in-chief - is outside Media City. Local youngsters don't look that impressed.
AFPCopyright: AFP
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.
Andrew Yates/ReutersCopyright: Andrew Yates/Reuters
Quote Message: Watching a drone outside my office window at #MediaCity and seeing pics from drone on TV at same time. Weird. #LeadersDebate
Watching a drone outside my office window at #MediaCity and seeing pics from drone on TV at same time. Weird. #LeadersDebate
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.
Add to the debate
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
David Richardson:
Email Message:
I have to be honest in 58 years the only people who knock on my door to canvass are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Where are all the pollsters and politicians?
I have to be honest in 58 years the only people who knock on my door to canvass are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Quote Message: .@Ed_Miliband, @David_Cameron what r chances of sensible dialogue 2night? rather than points scoring, message delivering nonsence #GE2015
.@Ed_Miliband, @David_Cameron what r chances of sensible dialogue 2night? rather than points scoring, message delivering nonsence #GE2015
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
Really interesting dynamic in #leadersdebate is 3 female ldrs. Cd be asymmetric warfare:men wary of looking macho even if women hit em hard
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
bbcCopyright: bbc
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.
Quote Message: Someone at ITV is having a laugh with their choice of hashtag for the debate tonight #GetAnswers #yeahright
Someone at ITV is having a laugh with their choice of hashtag for the debate tonight #GetAnswers #yeahright
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".
Quote Message: This Ed four-shoes thing is weird. Couldn't he choose between the two pairs?
This Ed four-shoes thing is weird. Couldn't he choose between the two pairs?
Audience arrives
'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.
Quote Message: I am actually excited for the debate. #GE2015 . Especially interested in hearing what will go on between Ed and David.
I am actually excited for the debate. #GE2015 . Especially interested in hearing what will go on between Ed and David.
'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."
Quote Message: David Cameron preparing for the #leadersdebate "Long term economic plan. Long term economic plan. Long term economic plan. long..." #GE2015
David Cameron preparing for the #leadersdebate "Long term economic plan. Long term economic plan. Long term economic plan. long..." #GE2015
'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.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
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"
Am told that @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot was approached by Tories but wasn't aware it was to sign the pro-Conservative business letter"
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.
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?"
So #leadersdebate is already trending on Twitter - @David_Cameron how can you tell us that the public don't have an appetite for it?"
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
.
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."
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.
Won't be any difference than Parliament, always slagging each other off there.
Quote Message: Just catching up on a few stats and figures before the #leadersdebate tonight. #StrongerEconomy #FairerSociety.
Just catching up on a few stats and figures before the #leadersdebate tonight. #StrongerEconomy #FairerSociety.
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.
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!'"
Quote Message: #leadersdebate Will the show open to the soundtrack of The Magnificent Seven?
#leadersdebate Will the show open to the soundtrack of The Magnificent Seven?
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.
bbcCopyright: bbc
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."
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."
Send us your comments
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Gareth Herron, Aberdeen
Email Message: Why are the Northern Ireland parties excluded from this debate? Plaid Cymru and SNP are both other specific to their own countries, yet NI parties get marginalised. This ‘national’ debate in no way represents 2 million of its Northern Irish citizens, and only goes further to disenfranchise them from British politics!
Why are the Northern Ireland parties excluded from this debate? Plaid Cymru and SNP are both other specific to their own countries, yet NI parties get marginalised. This ‘national’ debate in no way represents 2 million of its Northern Irish citizens, and only goes further to disenfranchise them from British politics!
Reality Check
Is there a normal immigration level?
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
Quote Message: #leadersdebate drinking game: Drink when @Nigel_Farage smirks (sip it, don't down it or you'll be drunk two minutes in...)
#leadersdebate drinking game: Drink when @Nigel_Farage smirks (sip it, don't down it or you'll be drunk two minutes in...)
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
PACopyright: PA
Add to the debate
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Brian Gare, Norfolk:
Email Message: All people are really interested in is seeing who fouls up first or drops a right clanger. And that's what tomorrow's headlines will all be about. And guess what, each party will be claiming their leader is the winner. It would have probably been a bit more entertaining and drawn a bigger audience if John Bercow, the Speaker, had been asked to officiate. He is well used to dealing with keeping politicians in line.
All people are really interested in is seeing who fouls up first or drops a right clanger. And that's what tomorrow's headlines will all be about. And guess what, each party will be claiming their leader is the winner. It would have probably been a bit more entertaining and drawn a bigger audience if John Bercow, the Speaker, had been asked to officiate. He is well used to dealing with keeping politicians in line.
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."
The last debates were macho. The live performance, tribalism, post-match analysis & absence of women felt like watching Sky Sports in a pub."
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.
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
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
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Reg, Fife:
All these party leaders on one stage sounds too chaotic. They should just turn it into an election edition of ''Pointless''.
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.
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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.
Quote Message: Prediction for tonight: British public left conflicted after agreeing with Greens/SNP/PC ideas but knowing they won't get in #leadersdebate
Prediction for tonight: British public left conflicted after agreeing with Greens/SNP/PC ideas but knowing they won't get in #leadersdebate
'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
BBCCopyright: BBC
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
In the spotlight
bbcCopyright: bbc
There's plenty of attention on Nick Clegg as he visits first aid charity Millie's Trust in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire.
Ready for combat?
The Huffington Post
Huffington PostCopyright: 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".
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Politics Live viewer:
Blimey the debate is the Weakest Link! Where's Anne Robinson?
Christopher Hope, Assistant Editor and Chief Political Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph
Quote Message: I should say also that the Conservatives are also keeping themselves to themselves and us journalists at arms length during #GE2015. Rubbish."
I should say also that the Conservatives are also keeping themselves to themselves and us journalists at arms length during #GE2015. Rubbish."
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.
It's @MediaCityUK 's chance to shine tonight. #leadersdebate #GE2015"
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.
Quote Message: Cameron will be held to account tonight. None of the leaders agree with Tory austerity (except Clegg!) #leadersdebate #CheerioCameron
Cameron will be held to account tonight. None of the leaders agree with Tory austerity (except Clegg!) #leadersdebate #CheerioCameron
Peer pressure
BBCCopyright: BBC
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".
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."
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Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Adam Sutherland:
Email Message: Why not have regional debates? So the SNP would debate Scottish Labour and Tories and the same with Plaid Cymru in Wales. Having a UK-wide seven way debate with the nationalist parties frustrates anyone outside these countries as the are not national parties.
Why not have regional debates? So the SNP would debate Scottish Labour and Tories and the same with Plaid Cymru in Wales. Having a UK-wide seven way debate with the nationalist parties frustrates anyone outside these countries as the are not national parties.
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...
Quote Message: #NigelFarage can't seem to staple down any permananent or clear immigration policy, will #UKIP come under pressure tonight #leadersdebate
#NigelFarage can't seem to staple down any permananent or clear immigration policy, will #UKIP come under pressure tonight #leadersdebate
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.
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Email: politics@bbc.co.uk:
Email Message: Daniel Lee, London:
Daniel Lee, London:
Email Message: The SNP and Plaid are involved in the debate as the other parties are standing against them. As such it would give those parties an advantage and an extra platform over them in Scotland and Wales if they weren't included. This is largely, but not completely, not the case for the Northern Irish parties.
The SNP and Plaid are involved in the debate as the other parties are standing against them. As such it would give those parties an advantage and an extra platform over them in Scotland and Wales if they weren't included. This is largely, but not completely, not the case for the Northern Irish parties.
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.
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.
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."
Send us your comments
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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.
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Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Justin Stone, Leicester:
Email Message:
So fed up of the sanctimonious tribal
statements heard during the election, not from politicians, but members
of the public who seem to be no better than those they moan about. Our MPs are
a reflection of the society that votes them in. I’m sure politicians would love
to be more upfront and mature if they thought they would be handled in a
similar way by the voters who seem to think that MPs are surrogate
parents who should solve every single problem there is. I wouldn’t be an
MP for anything and far from being career politicians I suspect some cannot
wait to get out.
So fed up of the sanctimonious tribal
statements heard during the election, not from politicians, but members
of the public who seem to be no better than those they moan about. Our MPs are
a reflection of the society that votes them in. I’m sure politicians would love
to be more upfront and mature if they thought they would be handled in a
similar way by the voters who seem to think that MPs are surrogate
parents who should solve every single problem there is. I wouldn’t be an
MP for anything and far from being career politicians I suspect some cannot
wait to get out.
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."
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Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Gareth, Isle of Wight
Email Message:
So far in this election, what has annoyed me by far the most is having to listen to both principle parties tell me what they are not going to do.
What would have been really useful would have been to ban anyone tonight telling us what they are not going to do and instead having to fill there time just telling us what they are.
Then if they are not prepared to tell us anything it would be plain for all to see.
So far in this election, what has annoyed me by far the most is having to listen to both principle parties tell me what they are not going to do.
What would have been really useful would have been to ban anyone tonight telling us what they are not going to do and instead having to fill there time just telling us what they are.
Then if they are not prepared to tell us anything it would be plain for all to see.
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Email politics@bbc.co.uk
Sheila Rantle:
Email Message:
I would like to know why party leaders from SNP and Plaid Cymru are taking part in a debate whereby only people living in Scotland and Wales can vote for those parties. Surely they should be taking part in a debate in the regions where they can influence the electorate. Why should question time be wasted on these parties? Emphasis and time should be given to nationwide parties only.
I would like to know why party leaders from SNP and Plaid Cymru are taking part in a debate whereby only people living in Scotland and Wales can vote for those parties. Surely they should be taking part in a debate in the regions where they can influence the electorate. Why should question time be wasted on these parties? Emphasis and time should be given to nationwide parties only.
Get involved
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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.
Get involved
Email politics@bbc.co.uk
Email Message: Edgar Lange, Gosport
Yesterday was a battle between Business v Workers. I say that there was a no score draw. Let's hope there are more interesting issues today.
Edgar Lange, Gosport
Yesterday was a battle between Business v Workers. I say that there was a no score draw. Let's hope there are more interesting issues today.
Get involved
Vic Iyalla, Bromley
Email Message:
When leaders give straightforward answers to straightforward questions then we can enjoy tonight's debate. I think tonight's debate will look boring if the leaders try to evade questions or try to rephrase questions to suit themselves...'that's my opinion'.
When leaders give straightforward answers to straightforward questions then we can enjoy tonight's debate. I think tonight's debate will look boring if the leaders try to evade questions or try to rephrase questions to suit themselves...'that's my opinion'.
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.
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."
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
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.
Quote Message: I'm told Farage "having a couple of G&Ts" before #ITVDebate, also Natalie Bennett is feeling "good"
I'm told Farage "having a couple of G&Ts" before #ITVDebate, also Natalie Bennett is feeling "good"
Politics class
Pupils at Kings Leadership Academy, in Warrington, are given an outdoor politics lesson from a familiar face.
APCopyright: AP
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'.
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'.
'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."
"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."
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".
bbcCopyright: bbc
'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.
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
BBCCopyright: BBC
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."
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.
BBC's Lib Dem campaign correspondent Chris Buckler
Quote Message: Nick Clegg planning to go for "a nice walk" to clear his head ahead of the debate.
Nick Clegg planning to go for "a nice walk" to clear his head ahead of the debate.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'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".
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."
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.
'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".
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
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
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.
Quote Message: Several people in this audience revealed themselves as Labour members. Big applause for an NHS worker who mentioned Andy Burnham. #ge2015
Several people in this audience revealed themselves as Labour members. Big applause for an NHS worker who mentioned Andy Burnham. #ge2015
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.
Required listening...
BBC Radio 5 Live
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.
'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."
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.
First 30mins most important. The lobby and the spin doctors don't watch the last 15mins but start talking to each other instead.
Miliband Q&A
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.
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.
Bury arrival
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.
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.
Quote Message: The #leadersdebate studio is also home to #thevoiceuk <Maybe you can all turn around when you hear something you like
The #leadersdebate studio is also home to #thevoiceuk
@chrisshipitvCopyright: @chrisshipitv
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".
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".
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.
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."
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.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'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...
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
Welcome cuppa
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.
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
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
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.
Quote Message: Beyond the Westminster bubble, nobody cares about the TV debates http://gu.com/p/476yg/stw
Beyond the Westminster bubble, nobody cares about the TV debates http://gu.com/p/476yg/stw
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.
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.
'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.
Iain Watson, the BBC's Labour Campaign Correspondent
Quote Message: En route to 'People's Question Time' in Bury - Labour select the audience but insist it's mostly swing voters #ge2015
En route to 'People's Question Time' in Bury - Labour select the audience but insist it's mostly swing voters #ge2015
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
'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...
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."
Nigel Farage on Radio 4 Today
BBC Radio 4 Today
'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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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.
AFP/Getty ImagesCopyright: AFP/Getty Images
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%.
Ross Hawkins, BBC political correspondent
@rosschawkins
tweets:Red sky in the morning, politicians' warning, welcome to Manchester #bbcbreakfast
@rosschawkinsCopyright: @rosschawkins
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.
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.
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.
Leaders' debate
'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."
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.
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
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.
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.
Live Reporting
Tom Moseley, Andrew McFarlane and Bernadette McCague
All times stated are UK
Get involved
-
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
GuardianCopyright: Guardian TelegraphCopyright: Telegraph The TimesCopyright: The Times IndependentCopyright: Independent BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC TwitterCopyright: Twitter PACopyright: PA BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC AFPCopyright: AFP - Miliband: 25%
- Cameron: 24%
- Farage: 19%
- Sturgeon: 17%
- Clegg: 9%
- Bennett: 3%
- Wood: 2%
House of Commons LibraryCopyright: House of Commons Library GETTY IMAGESCopyright: GETTY IMAGES BBCCopyright: BBC DemosCopyright: Demos BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC REXCopyright: REX BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC ITVCopyright: ITV BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV ONSCopyright: ONS ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV BBCCopyright: BBC ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV ITVCopyright: ITV GettyCopyright: Getty - 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
BBCCopyright: BBC GettyCopyright: Getty BBCCopyright: BBC AFPCopyright: AFP BBCCopyright: BBC AFPCopyright: AFP Andrew Yates/ReutersCopyright: Andrew Yates/Reuters bbcCopyright: bbc BBCCopyright: BBC Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images @nick_cleggCopyright: @nick_clegg bbcCopyright: bbc BBCCopyright: BBC PACopyright: PA BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC bbcCopyright: bbc Huffington PostCopyright: Huffington Post
BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC Nigel CrebbinCopyright: Nigel Crebbin BBCCopyright: BBC APCopyright: AP bbcCopyright: bbc BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC - 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.
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Latest PostRecap: Debate day round-up
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.
Read more of Iain's analysis.
Guardian front page
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.
Telegraph front page
The Times front page
Independent front page
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.
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%.
Snap poll results
Here is a summary of the snap polls carried out after tonight's leaders' debate.
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.
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".
Read more onNick's blog.
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.
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".
Heckler
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."
More from the Worm
Worm's verdict
Here's what the BBC's floating voter worm (explained here ) made of the leaders' debate:
Jim Pickard, Financial Times
@PickardJE
tweets :
Mighty Giant
@mighty_giant
Tweets:
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.
Latest from Salford
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.
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.
Nigel Morris, Deputy Poltical Editor, The Independent
@NigelpMorris
Tweets:
Question Time panel
Sturgeon most tweeted
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
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.
Tom Newton Dunn, Political Editor, The Sun
@tnewtondunn
Tweets:
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.
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%.
Jamie Ross, @BuzzFeedUK
@JamieRoss7
Tweets:
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%.
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.
'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.
David Schneider, comedian
@davidschneider
tweets:
Paul Waugh, Editor PoliticsHome.com
@paulwaugh
Tweets:
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.
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.
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.
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%
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!
Jamie Chapman, Daily Mail
@jameschappers
Tweets:
Craig Woodhouse, Sun Political Correspondent
@craigawoodhouse
Tweets:
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.
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.
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".
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?
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.
Scottie McClue, broadcaster
@ScottieMcClue
Tweets:
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).
John Pienaar, BBC
@JPonpolitics
Tweets:
'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".
Add to the debate
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Susan Hollywood, Belfast:
Andrew Neil, BBC
@afneil
Tweets:false
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".
Sum1st
@Sum1st
Tweets:
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.
Isabel Hardman, Spectator
@IsabelHardman
Tweets:
Household income
This chart shows household income by age group
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."
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.
Tony Ziemianski
@TonyoTimes
Tweets:
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.
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Fran Clark:
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.
Ben Page, Ipsos MORI
@@benatipsosmori
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Alex Krasodomski, Associate at the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media, Demos
@akrasodomski
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Health 'tourism'
You can review that clash between Nigel Farage, Leanne Wood and Nicola Sturgeon over health tourism via our online clip.
'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.
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%.
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".
Patrick Mooney
@patrick_mooney
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Jane Vernon
@JaneVernon2
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Conor Greaney
@ConorEAGreaney
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Young people
The debate on young people has been thrown open to the floor. David Cameron says free schools are "a great institution".
James Forsyth, Spectator
@JGForsyth
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Tom Bradby, Political Editor, ITV
@tombradby
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Charlie Brooker, broadcaster
@charltonbrooker
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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.
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Peter, Larne:
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
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.
'We got it wrong'
We did get it wrong on immigration, says Ed Miliband, "and I have changed our approach".
Sandy Sloan
@Sandy92Sloan
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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.
sunnylambe
@sunnylambe
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Paul Delamore
@pauldelamore
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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.
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%).
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I have a vision of Julie Etchingham as Snow White with her seven friends... Doc, Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy and Happy.
Post update
'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.
'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.
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.
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'".
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%)
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.
UK net migration figures
Doc Atherton
@realdocatherton
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'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.
Immigration policies
Find out where the parties stand on immigration
'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".
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.
Tim Shipman, Political Editor, Sunday Times
@ShippersUnbound
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Free social care?
Natalie Bennett says the Green Party would offer free social care to over 65s who need it.
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.
Anne McElvoy, The Economist
@annemcelvoy
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More on A&E waiting
Our graphic shows the NHS's performance against waiting time targets in England.
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.
Isabel Hardman, The Spectator
@IsabelHardman
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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".
Paul Allan
@pallan84
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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.
HIV treatment
Leanne Wood accuses Nigel Farage of "dangerous scaremongering" after he raises the cost of treating foreigners who are HIV positive.
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15 to 1? More like the Weakest Link. Wouldn't it be great if Anne Robinson was in charge?
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.
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.
Pic: Facing the audience
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".
John Rentoul, Columnist Independent on Sunday
@JohnRentoul
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'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".
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.
Watch again: Clegg v Cameron
You can review that spat between Nick Clegg and David Cameron over their respective approaches to cutting the deficit.
'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.
Party policy guide: Health
Where do the parties stand on health and care?
Chris Ship, ITV News Deputy Political Editor
@chrisshipitv
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'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.
Yousuf Ali
@salonepekin
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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.
NHS
How will the leaders secure the future of the NHS, is the next question from 63-year-old Terry Kelly.
Pic: The colour coded podiums
Sarah Lambert
@SarahLambert01
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Pic: Making a point
'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."
Have your say
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
Sally Wilson
Pic: Natalie Bennett, Green leader
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."
Send us your comments
Email: politics@bbc.co.uk
S. Slade:
Pic: Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader
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.
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.
Renee Dougal
@rendougal
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Pic: Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader
'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.
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.
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.
Alastair Stewart, ITV News
@alstewitn
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Karl Davis
@KarlusDavius
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Reality Check
Wages falling behind bills?
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.
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.
Pic: David Cameron, Conservative leader
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".
Pic: Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader
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.
Economic arguments
Compare parties' economic pledges with our general election policy guide
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.
Craig Woodhouse, The Sun political correspondent
@craigawoodhouse
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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".
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.
'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.
Pic: Ed Miliband
Columnist and broadcaster Iain Dale
@IainDale
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'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.
Matthew d'Ancona, Guardian columnist
@MatthewdAncona
Tweets: false
First question
The first question is about how the leaders will cut the deficit while protecting public services.
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.
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.
Tonight's format
Host Julie Etchingham explains that the leaders will now face questions from the audience.
Leanne Wood
In a hung Parliament, Plaid Cymru can "win for Wales" says Leanne Wood.
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.
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.
Brianna Bethany
@Brianna_Bethany
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Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon says the SNP will work with other "parties of like mind" to end the "bedroom tax" and protect the NHS.
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.
Post update
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".
'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.
Robert H
@scottishphoenix
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Pic: Scene of the debate
Opening statements
And we're off. First up with her introductory remarks is Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.
Columnist Gaby Hinsliff
@gabyhinsliff
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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.
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Ben Glaze, Daily Mirror Political Correspondent
@benglaze
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Five minute warning
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:
'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.
Tina
@tbo51972
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SNP influence
Stewart Hosie of the SNP says he doubts leader Nicola Sturgeon is nervous.
Steve Hawkes, Deputy Political Editor, The Sun
@steve_hawkes
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David Hughes, Press Association
@DavidHughesPA
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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".
BBC Radio 4 producer Kevin Mousley
@kevinmousley
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'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.
Clegg's here
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had a smile for the cameras as he arrived at the studio.
Nadia Gilani
@nadiagilani
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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".
The Camerons arrive
And here's Prime Minister David Cameron, with wife Samantha, hot on the heels of the Lib Dem leader.
Clegg at Media City
We're hearing that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has just arrived at the Salford debate venue.
Chris Cook, policy editor, BBC Newsnight
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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."
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.
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 .
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".
Feathers flying?
The Mirror Chicken - the newspaper's mischief maker-in-chief - is outside Media City. Local youngsters don't look that impressed.
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.
Victoria Sorzano
@VicSorzano
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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.
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David Richardson:
Alan Guy
@AlanGuy_
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Paul Waugh, Editor of PoliticsHome.com
@paulwaugh
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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
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.
Jo Austen
@joausten14
Tweets:
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".
Craig Woodhouse, The Sun political correspondent
@craigawoodhouse
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Audience arrives
'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.
Summer Bunny
@SR_Otieno
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'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."
Ryan Curran
@nufcLoverRyan
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'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.
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.
Kamal Ahmed, BBC business editor
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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.
Sherman
@shermanking40
Tweets:
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 .
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."
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Kamal Ahmed, BBC business editor
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@nickclegg
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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.
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!'"
Jamie Ross,
@JamieRoss7
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Gilberdyke Keith
@ExBROUGH
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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.
Send us your comments
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Gareth Herron, Aberdeen
Reality Check
Is there a normal immigration level?
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...
Modern Nonsense
@nonsense_modern
Tweets:
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
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Brian Gare, Norfolk:
Theo Bertram, former No 10 advisor
@theobertram
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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.
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
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.
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Reg, Fife:
All these party leaders on one stage sounds too chaotic. They should just turn it into an election edition of ''Pointless''.
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.
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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.
Matt Sterling
@MSterling27
Tweets:
'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
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
In the spotlight
There's plenty of attention on Nick Clegg as he visits first aid charity Millie's Trust in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire.
Ready for combat?
The 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".
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Politics Live viewer:
Blimey the debate is the Weakest Link! Where's Anne Robinson?
Christopher Hope, Assistant Editor and Chief Political Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph
@christopherhope
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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.
Chris Cook, BBC News lead studio director
@chrisckmedia
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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.
Alexander
@homorysm
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Peer pressure
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".
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."
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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...
Jack Waldron
@waldron1994
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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.
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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.
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.
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."
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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.
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Justin Stone, Leicester:
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."
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Gareth, Isle of Wight
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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.
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Vic Iyalla, Bromley
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.
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."
Analysis: from the Labour campaign
Peter Hunt, the BBC Labour campaign correspondent, is in Bury with Ed Miliband and his team.
@Telegraph assistant comment editor Asa Bennett
@asabenn
tweets:
Politics class
Pupils at Kings Leadership Academy, in Warrington, are given an outdoor politics lesson from a familiar face.
Analysis: BBC Lib Dem campaign correspondent Chris Buckler
'Not just words'
David Cameron says tonight's TV debate is a "big occasion" but he's looking forward to it.
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".
'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.
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
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."
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.
BBC's Lib Dem campaign correspondent Chris Buckler
@csbuckler
tweets:
'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".
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."
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.
'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".
Iain Watson, BBC's Labour campaign correspondent
@iainjwatson
tweets :
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.
Callum May, BBC News
@callummay
tweets :
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.
Required listening...
BBC Radio 5 Live
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:
'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."
BBC Radio 5 live
@bbc5live
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Theo Bertram, former adviser to Gordon Brown, on the debates
@theobertram
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Miliband Q&A
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.
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.
Bury arrival
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.
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.
Chris Ship, ITV News deputy political editor
@chrisshipitv
tweets:
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".
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".
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.
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."
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.
'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...
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
Welcome cuppa
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.
The Spectator's James Forsyth
@JGForsyth
tweets:
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.
Patrick Wintour, political editor of The Guardian
@patrickwintour
tweets:
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.
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.
'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.
Iain Watson, the BBC's Labour Campaign Correspondent
@iainjwatson
tweets:
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.
'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...
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."
Nigel Farage on Radio 4 Today
BBC Radio 4 Today
'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.
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.
'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.
Norman Smith, BBC's assistant political editor
@BBCNormanS
tweets: Thank god they got the apostrophe right ! #tvdebates#grammaralert
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
Ross Hawkins, BBC political correspondent
@rosschawkins
tweets:Red sky in the morning, politicians' warning, welcome to Manchester #bbcbreakfast
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.
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.
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.
Leaders' debate
'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."
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.
The papers
The Daily Telegraph
The Telegraph takes a different view, claiming there is a deepening rift between the Labour leader and business after more major figures signed a letter endorsing the Conservatives.
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
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.
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.