Election Live - 3 April

BBC political producer Emily Clark dug out a copy of the Times from 2010 to find a striking similarity with Friday's post-debate front page headline. "Almost the same, but so very different," she notes.

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tweets :

Quote Message: French consul general tells @GdnScotland no such views given by @NicolaSturgeon "absolutely no preference was expressed" on #GE2015 outcome

French consul general tells @GdnScotland no such views given by @NicolaSturgeon "absolutely no preference was expressed" on #GE2015 outcome

So, @NicolaSturgeon says @Telegraph story is untrue. Does that mean she DOES see Ed as PM material? #constituencyof1

tweets :

Quote Message: Forget the politics of the Sturgeon memo for a second; the FCO needs to have the mother of all leak inquiries into how it got out.

Forget the politics of the Sturgeon memo for a second; the FCO needs to have the mother of all leak inquiries into how it got out.

The BBC's James Cook reports: "A source close to Nicola Sturgeon says Civil Service minutes of the meeting between the SNP leader and the French ambassador make no mention of a discussion of Ms Sturgeon's preference for prime minister."

Quote Message: The source said the minutes showed the discussion focused on the possibility of a referendum on British membership of the European Union. The story was 'completely false' said the source."

The source said the minutes showed the discussion focused on the possibility of a referendum on British membership of the European Union. The story was 'completely false' said the source."

tweets :

Quote Message: .@simon_telegraph your story is categorically, 100%, untrue...which I'd have told you if you'd asked me at any point today"

.@simon_telegraph your story is categorically, 100%, untrue...which I'd have told you if you'd asked me at any point today"

Regardless of any SNP denial, Scottish Labour Leader Jim Murphy is quick to respond to the Telegraph's story. He describes the story as a "devastating revelation that exposes the uncomfortable truth behind the SNP's General Election campaign".

Quote Message: For months Nicola Sturgeon has been telling Scots she wants rid of David Cameron yet behind closed doors with foreign governments she admits she wants a Tory Government."

For months Nicola Sturgeon has been telling Scots she wants rid of David Cameron yet behind closed doors with foreign governments she admits she wants a Tory Government."

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"We've been here before with the SNP... [they] say one thing in public but another in private. If Scotland votes SNP in May then Nicola Sturgeon will get her wish - the Tories will be the largest party across the UK and David Cameron will return to Downing Street."

The BBC's James Cook reports: "Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has denied telling the French ambassador to the UK that she would prefer David Cameron as prime minister."

Here's that Telegraph front page, which describes the SNP leader's "secret backing" for Mr Cameron.

TelegraphCopyright: Telegraph

It looks like a big story is brewing in one of tomorrow's papers. On its website, the Telegraph claims to have seen a leaked memo detailing how SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon privately told a foreign official she would "rather see" David Cameron remain in No 10 after the election because Ed Miliband was not "prime minister material".

The BBC is awaiting responses from both the SNP and Labour, about the Telegraph's version of what's reportedly an official account of Ms Sturgeon's meeting with the French Ambassador in February.

Some of Saturday's front pages have started to arrive - and it looks like political stories will be featuring on many of them.

Avid readers might recall that BBC Radio 4 World at One's Shaun Ley has spent the week in Dudley, where Labour are sweating over a UKIP challenge in one constituency and the Conservatives fearing the Farage effect in another.

But will the challenge from the eurosceptic party materialise? "It's not hard to find people who say they're attracted by UKIP's message, but not sure they'll vote for it," says Shaun.

Find out what's on the minds of the electorate, in his latest dispatch.

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tweets :

Quote Message: This election is missing cockamamie voter tribes. Remember 'Worcester Woman'; 'Pebble-dash people'? What is the *key* demographic this time?"

This election is missing cockamamie voter tribes. Remember 'Worcester Woman'; 'Pebble-dash people'? What is the *key* demographic this time?"

BBC political correspondent Chris Mason is finding time between bulletins to answer questions posed on his Facebook Q&A . Katy Eloise, politics editor at Nouse - the University of York's student newspaper - asked: "Do you think Sturgeonmania will last or will it subside like Cleggmania?"

Here's Chris's reply:

Quote Message: The big difference is the huge spike in the SNP's fortunes wasn't caused by the debates - but the fall out of the referendum vote. And the opinion polls suggest - at the moment - that it is more sustainable than the Cleggmania bounce the Lib Dems had."

The big difference is the huge spike in the SNP's fortunes wasn't caused by the debates - but the fall out of the referendum vote. And the opinion polls suggest - at the moment - that it is more sustainable than the Cleggmania bounce the Lib Dems had."

Our correspondent continues: "The funny thing with Cleggmania is the party actually LOST seats at the 2010 general election. But what we don't know is whether they would have lost more without it or whether the mania had simply fizzled out by polling day."

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond was clearly impressed with his successor's performance last night, as he proved while campaigning in Kirkcaldy.

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BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher has been in the UK to describe the British election campaign for the audience in the States. And he reckons last night's fare was "much more interesting" than is served up across the pond.

Quote Message: The diversity of viewpoints was refreshing; the tenor of the discussion spirited."

The diversity of viewpoints was refreshing; the tenor of the discussion spirited."

The writer imagines a reworked 2012 debate between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney - with the addition of "conservative populist firebrand Pat Buchanan, Libertarian Ron Paul, a Green Party candidate and pro-independence nationalists from Texas and New England".

This endless talk of policies, polling and possible coalitions is taking its toll on the commentators. This request from a BBC News Channel producer found its way to Election Live team a short while ago:

Quote Message: Random - and urgent - request for Strepsils (other brands are available)... For a guest who is on air at 1930 please."

Random - and urgent - request for Strepsils (other brands are available)... For a guest who is on air at 1930 please."

More on that Survation poll. It gives Labour leader Ed Miliband his first ever net positive approval rating, meaning more people approve of the way he's been doing his job than disapprove.

It's "rocketed" to 4.4%, says the Mirror - although that's still a way behind David Cameron (7.7%).

The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon surged 19 points since to 15.4%, placing her as the most popular leader, followed by Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood. Despite a decent increase in support, Nick Clegg is still in negative territory as the least popular party chief. Nigel Farage is placed fourth, behind David Cameron.

A Survation poll for the Daily Mirror puts Labour two points in front of the Conservatives. That's the same result as its last survey, a week ago. The only shift is that UKIP has gained one percentage point, rising to 18%, at the expense of the Greens (3%). The poll places the Lib Dems fourth (9%), with the SNP on 5%.

Asked about the importance of TV debates, Prof Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, tells the BBC News Channel they help galvanise the core vote but that last night's televised event probably made little difference to the election. "Most people tune into a debate to root for their sides," he says.

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Quote Message: Very few people switch their votes based on what they see in a debate, unless there's a terrible gaffe."

Very few people switch their votes based on what they see in a debate, unless there's a terrible gaffe."

Former Labour cabinet minister Margaret Beckett says an Ed Miliband government would pass legislation to give 16 and 17-year-olds the vote. Meanwhile, the Conservatives' Justice Minister Chris Grayling says he expects a debate on this issue in the new parliament.

That won't please UKIP. A couple of days ago, the party's economic spokesman, Patrick O'Flynn, was arguing that people aged 16 and 17 shouldn't be allowed to vote in any referendum on EU membership because they had been "brainwashed" by pro-Brussels propaganda at school.

Comedian Eddie Izzard is wearing out some impressive shoe leather campaigning for Labour. He's in the Black Country today, wearing bright red lipstick, a black pencil skirt and black high heels that would do Theresa May proud.

He's criticised UKIP leader Nigel Farage's aim of leaving the EU. "Running and hiding from Europe is not going to change anything," he says.

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Quote Message: You've got to be engaged in Europe to change it."

You've got to be engaged in Europe to change it."

George Formby would not be impressed.

The Electoral Commission has ruled that a Devon man who planned to stand for election under the banner of the Ukulele Independence Party cannot use the name.

It could too easily be confused with that of Nigel Farage's United Kingdom Independence Party, the watchdog ruled.

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Kevin Tyrrell's manifesto would have included free ukuleles for hospital patients and a new bank holiday to celebrate Formby's birth, according to the Western Morning News.

Here's the sort of picture you're not too likely to see during this election campaign.

GETTY IMAGESCopyright: GETTY IMAGES

That's former PM Tony Blair being led under an "exit" sign at Labour's 2005 party conference. But the BBC's Callum May describes how party spin doctors have been covering up these pesky illuminated menaces to foil attempts to snap embarrassing photographs of party leaders.

The Association of Chief Fire Officers is unimpressed, however. A spokesman complained: "It puts people at risk of getting trapped or lost if a fire breaks out."

Fashion magazine Cosmopolitan has been getting to the heart of what matters in this election: politicians' favourite hangover cures.

Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan plumped for a trusty bacon sandwich which, perhaps unsurprisingly, wasn't the first choice of Labour leader Ed Miliband. It's been a while since he's had a hangover, apparently, but his fail safe is "drinking lots of water".

And what about Nick Clegg? "Three young boys running around usually does the trick." Hmm, not sure we'd agree. Green Party leader Natalie Bennett's go-to sounds great, if a little hard work: "Home-baked gluten-free bread with butter and honey."

So there you have it.

The latest BBC Election 2015 newsletter is winging its way to subscribers' inboxes as you read. If you've been missing out, you can sign up to get a review of the day's campaign news sent to your inbox every weekday afternoon.

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The BBC's Ben Geoghegan has been reading into the body language at the end of the debate, and he reckons David Cameron wasn't too impressed with his Lib Dem deputy.

"The handshake between the prime minister and Nick Clegg was a little bit perfunctory, a little bit frosty," he says.

Quote Message: I'm not sure whether the prime minister didn't feel a little bit put out that he had come under such early and quite aggressive attack from Nick Clegg."

I'm not sure whether the prime minister didn't feel a little bit put out that he had come under such early and quite aggressive attack from Nick Clegg."

tweets:

Quote Message: Teabreak for team @nick_clegg before getting back out on the doorstep, lots of praise for last night's #leadersdebate"

Teabreak for team @nick_clegg before getting back out on the doorstep, lots of praise for last night's #leadersdebate"

@SheffLibDemsCopyright: @SheffLibDems

Commentators are still scoring the debate. Alex Deane, former speechwriter for David Cameron, offers his view via the Real Clear World blog . Unsurprisingly, perhaps, he reckons his old boss top-scored with 8/10, alongside Nicola Sturgeon.

Deane had Miliband and Farage level on 7/10, and the three others on 5/10. But, pointing to polls suggesting a 50-50 split when respondents were asked who had performed best between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband, he says there's plenty of life in the campaign yet.

Quote Message: The more the public sees Miliband, the more it does not dismiss him as a potential prime minister... For Cameron, not slipping up was key... They both succeeded."

The more the public sees Miliband, the more it does not dismiss him as a potential prime minister... For Cameron, not slipping up was key... They both succeeded."

Nigel Farage's comment during the leaders' debate about migrants using the NHS for HIV treatment at a cost of £25,000 a year per patient provoked plenty of reaction. It was the most tweeted about comment of the entire debate, according to BBC social media editor Chris Hamilton.

Now Dr Rosemary Gillespie, of HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, has chipped in , saying: "HIV doesn't discriminate and politicians shouldn't either".

Quote Message: Such ill-informed and discriminatory comments generate stigma, and make it harder to encourage people to take a test and stay safe."

Such ill-informed and discriminatory comments generate stigma, and make it harder to encourage people to take a test and stay safe."

Political junkies who fancy a break from all this talk of election debates could do worse than check out a new play about Geoffrey Howe - the mild-mannered minister who toppled Margaret Thatcher with a deadly resignation speech. Thatcher is played by Steve Nellon (pictured), who you may remember as one of the voices of Spitting Image.

It's "a love letter to old-style politics," playwright Jonathan Maitland," tells the BBC's Brian Wheeler, "where being rubbish on TV didn't matter."

Dead Sheep is at the Park Theatre, in Finsbury Park, North London, until 9 May.

Sean BellCopyright: Sean Bell

Want to watch the whole two-hour debate all over again?

Fear not, now you can. Click here if you dare.

That's all from Marie and Gerry for now - we're off home to do exactly that. Honest.

Thanks for joining us. Andy and Brian are here to bring you all the latest updates and analysis until midnight.

tweets:

Quote Message: Finally get mile from home travelling back from Salford and Cons battlebus looms into view. The election's following me"

Finally get mile from home travelling back from Salford and Cons battlebus looms into view. The election's following me"

A heckler, an award-winning moustache and the "worst date ever".

Newsbeat has put together a list of the need-to-know (well, sort of) elements of the debate just in case you spent the night before the Bank Holiday weekend at the local boozer.

TwitterCopyright: Twitter

Another quick turnaround from the Conservative advertising team. This time it's a video mash-up of soundbites from Ed Miliband and Nicola Sturgeon, which ends with the sound of smashing glass and a stark warning.

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Our political correspondent Chris Mason is ready and waiting to take your questions on last night's leaders' debate now on Facebook.

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The Conservative party capitalise on Nicola Sturgeon's strong performance with this new poster. It speaks for itself, we think.

Conservative partyCopyright: Conservative party

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Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham says the debate has buoyed up Labour members.

"The Labour troops are in good spirits today," he says.

"We feel that Ed won the debate and the polls back that up.

"Why? Because he put forward a positive vision that ordinary working people could relate to."

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UKIP leader Nigel Farage says there were six parties that agreed on a lot of very big issues - and then there was UKIP.

Speaking in Kent this lunchtime, he says the other parties "are just so politically correct, they are so united around wanting to be popular on the international stage and my view is we are doing that at the expense of our own people".

He also claims David Cameron "didn't utter a single Conservative statement in two hours" during the live debate - but he says he would still consider doing a deal with the Tories in the event of a hung parliament.

The SNP says it has seen more than 2,000 new members sign up today, declaring there is "Nicolamania".

Meanwhile, the Scottish Sun takes a rather tongue in cheek look at Sturgeon's new-found popularity...

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been speaking about Nicola Sturgeon's performance.

He told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "She certainly outshone the other challengers last night, let's hand that to her. But she did rather give the game away, in that she didn't just say she would prop up a Miliband government, she actually said she would 'keep him honest', but which she meant she would keep him left-wing, she would keep him on a path of departing from our fiscal plan.

"That is extremely dangerous. That would jeopardise our recovery and it is yet another indicator that if you want the recovery to continue and go on creating these new jobs and getting Britain out of the mess we inherited, the only way to do that is to vote clearly for a Conservative government."

Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Nigel Dodds has reiterated his anger at the exclusion of his party from the TV debate.

He told Sky News: "We are bigger than four of the parties that were actually taking part in that debate and likely to play a role in the next parliament. We are going to end up with more seats than UKIP for instance, we are going to end up with more seats than the Greens and we are going to end up with more seats certainly than Plaid Cymru. So it is bizarre in the extreme that the Northern Ireland party that we represent did not have the opportunity to put our views."

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Interviewed in the Rhondda, south Wales, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood says she's not surprised by her low placement in the polls.

"I was speaking to Wales last night, clearly the polls would be taken across the UK and so if there was a Welsh audience then perhaps they would have been... had reflected the fact I was speaking directly for Wales."

REUTERS/Andrew YatesCopyright: REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Nick Clegg insists he is confident he will hold on to his Sheffield Hallam seat despite a poll indicating Labour are two points ahead.

The Lib Dem leader, who will spend Easter weekend campaigning in his constituency, says another Labour MP is "the last thing" Sheffield needs.

But he admits there are clearly "some folk in Sheffield" who are "not happy with the the Liberal Democrats".

"Of course I accept that going into government and then presiding over these difficult decisions comes with a political cost, of course it does."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage was accused of scaremongering by Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood after making remarks about foreigners with HIV coming to Britain.

He's been defending that stance today.

Quote Message: It seems rather clear to me they're coming here with the suspicion they may have it, knowing that we as a country will treat them. Of course we want to help people all over the world, but what's the limit to this? There are 7,000 diagnoses every year for HIV in Britain and over 60% of those aren't British nationals. Our national health service needs money to treat our people, its not there for the whole world"

It seems rather clear to me they're coming here with the suspicion they may have it, knowing that we as a country will treat them. Of course we want to help people all over the world, but what's the limit to this? There are 7,000 diagnoses every year for HIV in Britain and over 60% of those aren't British nationals. Our national health service needs money to treat our people, its not there for the whole world"

Politicians will be too by election day, according to these stats from our social media team.

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Polls ranked Green Party leader Natalie Bennett as one of last night's poorest performers but she says she's not concerned.

"I think we'll have to wait to see how the dust settles. But I'm getting some very positive feedback on Twitter," she said.

"One tweet I saw this morning, was someone saying that their previously comfortably Tory wife had been converted to being Green, which I thought was quite nice."

It's not just the Conservatives getting all the tricky questions about post-election deals. Ed Miliband is asked whether he was warming to a SNP deal after Nicola Sturgeon's lauded performance.

Quote Message: No, my position on that hasn’t changed. I think there were seven leaders on the stage last night, but only two prime ministers possible after the next election and two governments. A Labour or Conservative government and what I think the British people were able to see is that choice very starkly last night."

No, my position on that hasn’t changed. I think there were seven leaders on the stage last night, but only two prime ministers possible after the next election and two governments. A Labour or Conservative government and what I think the British people were able to see is that choice very starkly last night."

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The question that will not go away. Defence secretary Michael Fallon says "no" when pressed over whether the Conservatives would work with UKIP in the event of a hung parliament.

"We're not in the business of forming another coalition government.

He echoes David Cameron's assertion that the party was "going for a majority Conservative government" but asked if that was a "no" to working with UKIP, he confirms: "That's a no."

Danny Lawson/PA WireCopyright: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Nicola Sturgeon, who's out campaigning in Edinburgh, takes time out for a selfie with staff during a visit to a pharmacy.

She tells supporters she enjoyed last night's debate but is "glad it's over".

"I am really glad we had the opportunity to demonstrate Westminster is not just an old boys' network.

"There is a progressive alternative to the big mainstream parties and I hope that message got across."

For the latest from Scotland, click here.

Not enough laughs in last night's debate for you? Our colleague Mike Hills has trawled social media to find you some of the funniest takes on all that political posturing.

And here's a flavour of them.

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The first debate over and there's no sign of Cleggmania breaking out. A small crowd did turn up to see Nick Clegg unveil his latest poster in Hazel Grove, but they were Labour activists. That’s probably no reflection on his performance in the debate.

The Lib Dems are pleased with how their leader did, attacking his opponents while appearing reasonable. Crucially Mr Clegg avoided making any mistakes and didn’t appear to take much flak from the other leaders either. The trouble is that after five years in coalition with the Tories, he’s carrying a lot of baggage. No matter how well he did, it was never likely to lead to a boost in the polls and it hasn’t. But the ComRes poll taken immediately after the debate suggested that very few people felt he was the worst performer.

Mr Clegg told me he has not watched the debate back but if he’s starting to neutralise the hostility towards him, that’s progress.

tweets:

Quote Message: Dave & Ed this morn: that awkward moment when you're wearing exactly same as bloke you are trying to be different to

Dave & Ed this morn: that awkward moment when you're wearing exactly same as bloke you are trying to be different to

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UKIP's deputy leader Paul Nuttall has been defending his boss's comments during last night's debate about foreigners receiving treatment on the NHS for HIV.

Mr Nuttall said he believes migrants should be tested for the virus before they're allowed into the UK.

"Australia and Canada have a system, whereby you can't enter the country if you have HIV or AIDs. I think it makes no sense whatsoever to bring people into the country who have dangerous diseases."

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More on a possible Conservative-UKIP post-election deal. Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham wants to get to the bottom of the matter. He's written to David Cameron calling on him to "come clean" on his position.

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Ed Miliband, who's just been spotted out campaigning in Lancashire, is asked who won the debate, but replies: "I leave the commentary to others."

He says he set out a clear choice between Labour and the Tories.

There's been plenty of speculation about possible coalitions and arrangements in the event of a hung parliament. Nigel Farage has said he would do a post-election deal with the Conservatives - but would David Cameron agree to that?

Asked by Sky News whether he would take the opportunity to rule out any kind of coalition confidence and supply arrangement with UKIP, he said: “We are going to win outright, that’s our aim in this election.

"That’s what I’m going to spend my next 34 days fighting for. My impression of the debate was very much that there’s one person, one leader, one party, that is offering the competence of a long-term plan that’s working and then there’s a coalition of chaos out there, that wants more debts, spending and taxes, that’s what came across so clearly.”

Television viewers wanted a "spectacle", but British politics has never wanted for spectacle. Parliament is opened every year by the Queen - wearing an actual crown - and every week our politicians make spectacles of themselves at PMQs. Instead what viewers got was a debate.

This is a timeslot that usually features soap operas, and the seven-way fight had potential to rival anything on EastEnders or Corrie. There were familiar characters and new faces (for those outside Scotland and Wales), bitter enemies and coalition break-ups and Nigel Farage.

But if anything it was too polite. Usually seven people on an ITV stage means someone is about to throw a chair at Jeremy Kyle. Yet the careful moderation of ITV News's Julie Etchingham meant everything went according to plan. In two hours only four questions were asked, with the first seven minutes of every section allocated to the leaders' uninterrupted responses. For those wanting a brawl, it was a bit dull and overlong. It may have benefitted from more breaks, to let the viewers (and contestants) catch their breath.

In the Spin Room at Salford, where journalists and politicians watched the debate, the biggest laughs went to some pained expressions and Farage being Farage. That's why when a member of the audience started heckling, Twitter lit up, and many journos ran out of the room like Superman looking for a phone booth. At last, some shouting. This was more like it.

Nicola Sturgeon, who's campaigning in Edinburgh, has been talking about what might happen after May 7.

"A matter of simple arithmetic says if the SNP and Labour combined have more seats than the Tories we lock the Tories out of government," she told Sky News.

"If the SNP's a big force in Westminster we can make sure that a Labour government doesn't sell out on its values in the way that the last Labour government did. We can make sure that we keep them honest and make sure they deliver real change for people."

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David Cameron has told reporters he's "delighted" with how the seven-way showdown went, despite polls suggesting no-one emerged a clear winner.

Asked if he had been the "invisible man", the Conservative leader replied: "I was delighted with the debate. I am glad the poll of polls has got me coming out on top, but to me the real abiding impression was that I have a long-term plan that is working."

Happy Birthday to Nigel Farage who is 51 today. He's yet to tweet this morning - so we don't know if he feels he deserves a birthday pint after last night's performance - but his own party is among those who have wished him many happy returns via Twitter.

Awwww.

Americans often say elections are decided by the "big mo" - the party or candidate that has momentum.

After last night's debate Ed Miliband appears to have "little mo" and his strategists are content if not ecstatic with that. That's because they say so much of the Conservative campaign focuses on the issue of leadership.

On day one David Cameron denounced his Labour opponent on the steps of Downing Street. So, to tie with the current PM in two polls on the question of who won the debates - and to be ahead in another - is seen as progress.

Specifically on the question of who'd make the better prime minister, Ed Miliband still trails - but Labour argue the gap is narrower now than it was before the campaign got under way.

Privately they would concede that the seven-way format worked to an extent for David Cameron - and publicly they say the prime minister "hid behind" the leaders of the smaller parties to blunt Ed Miliband's blows.

They also recognise that Labour hasn't been on the front foot enough in the first full week of the campaign. Now with their leader pretty much unscathed after the only debate with David Cameron at this election, they say they have "policies in the locker" which will be released next week in an attempt to set rather than react to the agenda.

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If you couldn't quite work out what each of the seven party leaders stood for over the din of the debate, we've got a handy policy guide for you to peruse at your leisure.

Read more here.

tweets:

Quote Message: Ratings figs now in: #leadersdebate peak audience of 7.4 m (a 33% share); highest Thurs ITV audience since Eng v Uruguay"

Ratings figs now in: #leadersdebate peak audience of 7.4 m (a 33% share); highest Thurs ITV audience since Eng v Uruguay"

tweets:

Quote Message: David Cameron tells us he had steak and a glass of wine after last nights debate"

David Cameron tells us he had steak and a glass of wine after last nights debate"

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tweets: Look who we sat next to on the train back! Johnny #itvleaderdebate#GE2015

There were some sharp exchanges between the leaders last night - but David Cameron also came under attack from a heckler in the audience who wanted to highlight the plight of former members of the armed services.

Watch what happened here.

In the Press Association's poll of polls, the Conservative party has maintained a slim lead over Labour.

With 34 days to go until the election, the Tories are on 34.4%, 0.4 points ahead of Labour on 34.0%.

Ukip are in third place on 13.3%, the Liberal Democrats are fourth on 7.8% and the Greens are fifth on 5.4%.

However, it is too soon to judge whether the leaders' debate has had any impact upon levels of support, PA says.

Don't forget you can follow all the ups and downs on the BBC's poll tracker.

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We promised you more pictures of politicians in the rain - but it looks like David Cameron has managed to elude us, for now at least.

Here he is having a cuppa with a family in Chorley where he's speaking about the Tories' starter homes policy a little later.

We've just found out there is such a thing as an election sketch artist.

Here's Adam Dant at the Clegg poster unveiling in Hyde, Manchester. He sketches many such events - and also sketched last night's debate.

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ITV says seven million viewers watched the leaders’ debate, with an audience peak of 7.4 million.

This is down from the UK's first prime ministerial debate in 2010 - between the then PM Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg - which an average of 9.4 million viewers tuned in for.

The Daily Mirror's associate editor Kevin Maguire and economist Tim Harford agree we're in no-man's land when it comes to the political landscape.

The three-party system is gone and we're in a completely new era, says Mr Maguire, adding voter opinion is fractured across Britain.

Mr Harford says we'll have to wait to see whether people start thinking in a strategic way about their vote. He says it all adds up to an election outcome that is very hard to predict.

The party leaders must be feeling the glamour of last night's debate has all but vanished as they get back to the campaign trail in typical British bank holiday weather today.

They might have found last night testing but judging by these pictures they will be wishing they were back under the heat of the studio lights.We'll be sure to bring you some more pictures of politicians in the rain as we get them...

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Getty imagesCopyright: Getty images

After all the debate over... well... the debate we finally have some reaction from one of the participants themselves.

"Oh I enjoyed it," Nick Clegg tells reporters in Hyde, Cheshire.

"It's all a process, isn't it? I hope lots of people who got to see last night will be able to clarify in their own minds the choices.

"I think the choice was pretty stark really - which is on the one hand you've got a Labour party which wants to borrow too much, David Cameron wants to cut far too much, way beyond what's needed... I think we need to have a balanced approach - to balance the books and do it fairly, because that's the only way we're going to wipe the slate clean for future generations and also put money into our public services."

We said we'd bring you updates from this morning's leader movements - so here you go.

Here's Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Chief Secretary of the Treasury Danny Alexander unveiling a giant election poster in Hyde, Cheshire.

Don't say we never give you anything...

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Labour strategists are saying they're pleased with Ed Miliband's performance in the context of a seven-party debate - but they're also stressing it was a format decided by the PM and they didn't feel it had been particuarly successful for him, accusing him of having hidden behind some of the smaller parties.

Where Mr Miliband was at his least comfortable was when he was being attacked from the left - Nicola Sturgeon - rather than being attacked by David Cameron from the right.

If you missed last night's debate and want to watch it in full, you can do so on the ITV player (requires registration).

Overall David Cameron will be hugely relieved to have the debate behind him, to have survived, to have had no big slip-ups or gaffes.

He's back on the campaign trail - we're out and about on a housing estate in Lancashire where he's going to be talking about his party's starter homes policy.

But undoubtedly the chewing over of last night's debate will continue.

Party leaders are returning to the campaign trail this morning.

Nicola Sturgeon will be in Edinburgh where she'll visit a pharmacy in the west of the city, while David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are all campaigning in north-west England.

We'll bring you what they have to say as we get it...

The duel is over between party leaders in the first TV election debate - so what did voters make of it in a battle-ground constituency?

The Today programme's chief correspondent Matthew Price went to Bolton West, the centre of a fierce struggle for power, to find out.

Click here for a 60-second summary.

PACopyright: PA

Plaid Cymru has said party leader Leanne Wood proved herself to be the "principled" and "authentic voice of Wales" during the two-hour debate.

Read more reaction from Wales here.

EPACopyright: EPA

Never mind the debate over which politician won - some commentators are more preoccupied with how presenter Julie Etchingham did.

Andrew Pettie, of the Daily Telegraph, writes Etchingham was confident and had the "prim authority of a primary school teacher - which is more than can be said for the participants".

He also echoed a view - apparently held by many debate watchers on Twitter - that she looked very much like one Anne Robinson, the redoubtable host of the Weakest Link.

You decide...

Tory Chief Whip Michael Gove is doing the rounds and has just popped up on Radio 4. He says Nicola Sturgeon emerged as the "most impressive debutante on the stage" last night.

A YouGov poll handed victory to the SNP leader - but other polls have showed a mixed verdict post-debate.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Reality TV star Joey Essex was on BBC's This Week last night after his interview with Nick Clegg. He's also set to interview Cameron, Miliband and Farage as part of his new show, Educating Joey Essex.

The Only Way is Essex star said he had always wanted to vote but didn't know who to support, and admits he did not know who the prime minister was three months ago.

He said everyone should vote, and reckoned all parties were “doing good things”, but he could not yet decide who would get his vote.

Watch a clip here.

Spectator editor Fraser Nelson has been blogging about the battle between Cameron and Miliband. His view is that Ed Miliband could have won the election last night - but now it's David Cameron's to lose.

Read the full blog here.

Labour's Caroline Flint says it is welcome that women were front and centre of last night's TV showdown - but says more importantly it was about who will be the alternative prime minister to Mr Cameron.

And that person is... no prizes for guessing who she says... Ed Miliband.

Mr Miliband clearly won the debate and it was a "really good showing by him", she says.

John Pienaar, 5live's chief political correspondent, is reflecting on how the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon fared last night.

He says the Scottish public have been aware of the SNP's leader for a long time as Alex Salmond's right-hand woman - but many in the rest of the UK will have been seeing her as if for the first time.

"She more than held her own - she was a living symbol that the SNP is part of the UK's political picture."

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David Cameron may not have won the debate but it is the poll giving him a commanding lead when it comes to who is most capable of leading the country which has buoyed the Tory camp. As Mr Cameron heads back out on the campaign trail today he will undoubtedly be relieved to have the debate behind him.

Chancellor George Osborne, who led a clutch of Cabinet ministers into the spin room last night, said the key moment was when the prime minister accused each of the leaders lined up against him of planning more debt and more taxes.Tory strategists believe Mr Cameron succeeded in sticking to his core argument, that he is the leader with a long term plan turning the economy around.

The big risk was the unpredictability of the event but though Mr Cameron faced some strong attacks from Ed Miliband on the NHS and Nigel Farage on immigration, he held his ground.

Though the polls suggest Nigel Farage performed better on the night, Conservatives dismiss his significance and point to the success of Nicola Sturgeon as a further problem for Ed Miliband.

The polls suggest that it was the leaders of the smaller parties who did best on the night. But Conservatives believe that in the coming weeks voters will focus on who will be their next Prime Minister, so in the coming weeks their attacks will be targeted at their real rival in this campaign - Ed Miliband.

tweets:

Quote Message: Cons source says Cam won when you average polls - but that's Cam 22, Mili 21.5, Far 21, Sturgeon 20 -- 0.5 point advantage! Disparity between how Mili is rated as potential leader (behind Cam) & how he's regarded in debate (level give or take) fascinating"

Cons source says Cam won when you average polls - but that's Cam 22, Mili 21.5, Far 21, Sturgeon 20 -- 0.5 point advantage! Disparity between how Mili is rated as potential leader (behind Cam) & how he's regarded in debate (level give or take) fascinating"

Conservative Chief Whip Michael Gove says he realises opinion polls should be "taken with a pinch of salt" - but this morning there is a nationwide poll (he doesn't say which one) that shows the Conservatives have more support than they had at the last election.

Mr Gove says the PM last night reinforced the virtues of "strength and clarity and conviction" that people have come to see in him.

Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown - now the party's election campaign chairman - says Nick Clegg "did flawlessly".

He says the Lib Dem leader put both Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband on the back foot - and was the only one to take on Mr Farage - all of whom, "didn't manage to lay a finger on him".

He says his boss has done two important things while in government - firstly, he's "changed the culture of the country" so it begins to understand coalition politics and secondly, he's "changed the culture of party" so it now knows what it's like to have power and responsibility.

tweets:

Quote Message: Sky have just run all the notable moments of the debate. It only lasted 3 minutes..."

Sky have just run all the notable moments of the debate. It only lasted 3 minutes..."

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The Daily Mirror is among two papers not to feature the debate on the front page. The Mirror instead plumps for the story of a retired turkey farmer who's just won the lottery for the second time.

The Daily Mail also puts the debate on the inside pages - but its front page is one that will interest election watchers.

It reports the leader of a family of nine caught trying to get into Syria is the son of a respected Labour councillor in Rochdale. Shakil Ahmed, who is pictured with Ed Miliband, tells the Mail he thought his relatives were on holiday.

Steven Woolfe, UKIP MEP and the party's immigration spokesman, is on Radio 4 defending his boss's controversial remarks on the number of foreign nationals with HIV being treated by the NHS. Mr Farage said that figure stood at about 60% of total cases.

"Nigel is not saying those people should not be treated now. What he's saying is the national health service should not be an international health service," says Mr Woolfe.

He also defends Mr Farage's claim these people are "health tourists".

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One bit you might recall from last night's debate was the moment an audience member stood to heckle David Cameron.

The woman - 33-year-old Victoria Prosser, from Salford - later told reporters she couldn't help but challenge Mr Cameron because she wanted people to question "the 1% at the top" who she said were not working in the country's interests.

She's on Radio 5live in about an hour - we'll bring you what she has to say. Will she feel the same in the cold light of day?

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Four of the leaders who took part in the election debate are depicted as characters from the board game Cluedo - only the Daily Star calls them "Clueless!" instead.

tweets:

Quote Message: Analysis of what people tweeted about #leaderdebate: Tweets about ‘personality’: 89%. Tweets about ‘politics/policy’: 11%

Analysis of what people tweeted about #leaderdebate: Tweets about ‘personality’: 89%. Tweets about ‘politics/policy’: 11%

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The Sun reckons Mr Miliband has blown his chance of winning the election. The paper says he lost his temper and repeatedly demanded a right to reply to David Cameron's attacks over tax. Inside it says a "fired-up" Mr Cameron "came out fighting".

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Back on the thorny issue of who won - and this graphic might give you some idea of why many parts of the media are reluctant to call it.

It's a confusing picture but appears to reflect the view among commentators that we did not see any knock-out blow, nor zinger or gaffe, that might have changed the course of this election.

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The Guardian says the "fractured nature" of Britain's multiparty democracy was laid bare during the debate - and declares this points to yet another coalition government come May 8.

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"Enter the outsiders" states the Times. It says Mr Farage and the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon emerged as the winners.

Who won the debate?

When it comes to the papers it might well depend upon which one you're reading.

You can read a full review here - but over the next few posts we'll run through where each of them stands.

The Daily Telegraph declares Ed Miliband a flop and says the Labour leader failed to break through as the main party leaders were overshadowed by the minority parties.

The paper says UKIP leader Nigel Farage "stood out" as others struggled to make their voices heard.

TelegraphCopyright: Telegraph

I don't think anyone would have been carried from the chamber victorious on the shoulders of their supporters.

But those with most to smile about will be those from the smaller parties - particularly the women, and most particularly, Nicola Sturgeon.

What was striking about her performance was that she didn't pitch herself as a Scottish politician - she pitched herself as a UK-wide politician appealing to a much broader base.

Many Labour supporters will have liked what they saw and would probably be much more comfortable over the prospect of working with the SNP further down the line.

You can judge for yourself who won the debate by reading the full BBC News report here . We'll also run through how the UK's newspapers saw the debate - and how the key commentators reacted.

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Snap polls taken after the debate gave differing verdicts on this...

A YouGov poll of 1,100 people gave a clear victory to the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, with 28%, followed by UKIP leader Nigel Farage (20%), Mr Cameron (18%), Mr Miliband (15%), Mr Clegg (10%), Green Party leader Natalie Bennett (5%) and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood (4%)

A ComRes poll for ITV made it a dead-heat between Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband, Mr Farage and Ms Sturgeon - but in this poll, Mr Cameron came out on top on the question of who was most capable of leading the country

Mr Miliband was judged best performer in an ICM poll for the Guardian, taking 25% of support, just ahead of David Cameron on 24%

There was no game changer. No single "moment", no zinger, no gaffe which looks set to re-shape the course of this election. Save perhaps for one.

That was the presence on the stage of not two or three party leaders but seven - a debate in which the talk of a new sort of politics, multi-party politics, became visible reality.

If that gives a boost for UKIP's Nigel Farage with his laser focus on immigration and his attack on the "Westminster parties" - as the early instant polls suggest - it will worry the Tories.

If it also promotes Natalie Bennett's Greens, Nicola Sturgeon's SNP and Leanne Wood's Plaid Cymru after their assault on austerity - it will frighten Labour. The consequence could be an outcome more unpredictable and more uncertain than any election for years.

Read Nick's full blog here.

Seven of the UK political party leaders faced off over the course of two hours last night, debating a range of issues live in front of a studio audience. See how we covered it live here.

It is the only debate of the campaign to feature David Cameron and Ed Miliband.

It's Good Friday - but if you're awake and reading this you'll also know it's the morning after the first TV election debate. Please do stay with us through the day for a recap of exactly what went on last night - and all the best reaction and analysis.