With only nine days to go until the closest election in recent times, here is what you should be looking out for today:
Labour
Kicking off with an imminent campaign event (9.30am), Labour are hoping to keep the focus on policy and away from hung parliament speculation. Peter Mandelson is on The Daily Politics this afternoon (2.15pm; see below) debating business with opponents Ken Clarke, the Liberal Democrats’ John Thurso and the SNP’s John Swinney.
This evening, deputy party leader Harriet Harman is debating Theresa May and Lynne Featherstone on the subject of women (8pm; see below).
Conservatives
Following this morning’s campaign event (10am), Conservative business spokesman Ken Clarke is to debate Peter Mandelson and others on The Daily Politics this afternoon (2.15pm; see below).
This evening, Theresa May, shadow secretary for work and pensions, will debate deputy Labor party leader Harriet Harman and the Liberal Democrats equality spokesperson Lynne Featherstone at an event presented by the London School of Economics and the Fawcett Society entitled “What About Women?” (8pm).
Liberal Democrats
With the day seeming to focus on crime, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne was on the Today programme this morning repeating his party’s view that prisons are being stretched by a multiplicity of shorter sentences — an issue in which he sees some overlap with the Tories.
At the moment, leader Nick Clegg is on BBC5 Live taking questions from listeners. He has sought to turn away from his flip-flopping on the possibility of a hung parliament, saying his focus is on those who would take forward his policies for the country.
Other parties
The BBC is reporting that the Scottish National Party — purusing the sour grape vote — are to start legal proceedings today against the public service broadcaster for failing to include leader Alex Salmond in their leaders’ debates.
The media
Today’s debate on The Daily Politics centres on business, featuring experienced sparring partners Peter Mandelson and Ken Clarke, alongside John Thurso for the Liberal Democrats and John Swinney for the SNP — interestingly, the BBC show is paying attention to the smaller parties issue by issue, yesterday having the Green Party on to debate the environment (2.15pm). They face questions from the corporation’s business editor Robert Peston alongside Andrew Neil.
On ITV1, weekly discussion programme Campaign 2010 with Jonathan Dimbleby returns with its usual political guests, commentators and live audience (10.35pm).
Away from the campaign
One for all the happy commuters — the East London Line is opening to the public today, running eight trains an hour between New Cross Gate and Dalston Junction from 7am until 8pm, according to the BBC. Full services will come in on 23 May.
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