With another 17 days to go in this election campaign, here is what is happening today:
Labour
All Labour cabinet ministers have been recalled to London for an emergency Cobra meeting on the ongoing air chaos. That meeting aside, Health Secretary Andy Burnham is expected to address the Unison health conference (2pm).
Conservatives
The party unveils its manifesto for Scotland today. Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague goes up against his counterparts Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Liberal Democrat spokesman Ed Davey in the first The Daily Politics election debates (BBC1, 2.15pm).
Liberal Democrats
Nick Clegg hosts his party’s morning press conference in London. Clegg is promising more investment in green jobs and technology.
The media
Radio 4’s Today programme “empty chaired” senior Tories this morning after requests for an interview after a difficult weekend for the party were turned down. ConservativeHome’s Tim Montgomerie was the stand-in. Later, New Statesman columnist Mike Smithson takes part in a Daily Politics Election Special (BBC2, 11.30am) to explain what the rise of the Lib Dems in the opinion polls (and the betting markets) means. And the repeat of Thursday night’s Have I Got News For You (BBC2, 10pm) is worth a watch. Originally broadcast directly against the first leaders’ debates, the jokes feel instantly out-dated.
Other parties
Not another party as such, but a campaign for a different kind of politics. Vote for Change is constructing a giant gallows from which an effigy of the Palace of Westminster will be hung. It is, you guessed it, all part of its campaign to achieve a hung parliament on 6 May.
Away from the campaign
Apparently it’s International TV Turn-Off Week. Organised by “White Dot”, the campaign against television has come at a bad time for Sky News which is hosting the second leaders’ debate this Thursday (Sky News, 8pm). Assuming people take up the campaign’s cause.
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