The Conservatives are promising an “English rate of income tax” voted for by English MPs. But what does the small print say?
Gary Gibbon
The Tories are in danger of desperately gnawing through the very lifebelt they may need after 7 May. Put that to senior Tories and they acknowledge the problem but feel they can do no other.
The IFS has scathing words for all the biggest parties as it accuses them of not being straight with voters over spending plans.
Alex Thomson
I write from Inverness on St George’s Day at a time when Westminster, London and England have rarely seemed so distant and foreign to so many – and that cuts both ways.
What Scots will do if the mandate contained in the SNP manifesto is first delivered then ignored will determine whether the UK survives as a political entity.
Gary Gibbon
The main thrust of Mr Cameron’s interview was an attack on the SNP. Andrew Marr said the PM was beginning to sound like an English Nationalist, which went down pretty badly.
Alex Thomson
What is billed as ‘life on the campaign trail’ is actually an antiseptic exercise in keeping our party leaders away from real voters.
Gary Gibbon
Nick Clegg began his manifesto launch with attacks on Ukip and the SNP. Only the Lib Dems could be trusted as a coalition partner, he said.
Gary Gibbon
Our YouGov poll adds to Labour’s gloom in Scotland with one tiny qualification. There’s a chance the headline figures for MPs elected are a bit better (or less awful) than it might seem.
The SNP is poised to make big gains in Scotland, according to YouGov, but a poll for Channel 4 News suggests that tactical voting could save some Labour MPs and two Liberal Democrats.
Gary Gibbon
Following the apparent success with voters of Ed Miliband’s non-dom policy, the Tories have focused on Trident and the effect the SNP in a kingmaker role could have on the UK’s defence policy.
The Tories attack Labour over the renewal of Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent – a huge military project that could cost almost £100bn – saying Ed Miliband is ready to “stab the UK in the back”.
Gary Gibbon
Jim Murphy was much more on his best form than yesterday at the second Scottish leaders’ debate, taking on Nicola Sturgeon on the issue of “full fiscal autonomy.”
Gary Gibbon
Nicola Sturgeon has arrived in the top job with perfect timing and it would seem, for many Scots, perfect casting.
Foreign policy: two words that have so far played very little part in the run-up to the general election. What would the parties do?