And so begins week two of the 2010 election campaign:
Labour
Gordon Brown is in Birmingham today to launch Labour’s manifesto (the Conservatives follow tomorrow, the Liberal Democrats on Wednesday). There has been much pre-launch speculation, including pledges to keep bus fares and children’s clothes free of VAT, and raise tax credits for poor mothers.
Conservatives
The news agenda is likely to be dominated by Labour’s manifesto, so Tory plans today have a certain “second division” feel to them (© Yvette Cooper). We have the shadow skills minister John Hayes unveiling a Tory apprenticeship scheme at a debate in Birmingham. The initiative includes a £2,000 incentive for small businesses to take on apprentices. Meanwhile, another senior Tory pitches up in Crawley. This time the party chairman, Eric Pickles, will be touring the constituency where Labour has a wafer-thin majority of 37 votes.
Liberal Democrats
Nick Clegg hosts his party’s press conference in London this morning.
The media
Television executives are getting excited about the TV leaders’ debates, which kick off this Thursday (ITV, 8pm). So, tonight we have Michael Cockerell‘s How to Win the TV Debate (BBC2, 7pm) and Tonight: Spotlight on the Leaders — David Cameron (ITV, 8pm). Meanwhile, Panorama (BBC1, 8.30pm) asks Is Britain Full?, to which Ukip answers, “Yes, it is.” (Some newspaper listings suggest Jeremy Paxman will be interviewing Nick Clegg at the same time on BBC1, but we’re reliably informed that the immigration piece will be going out in its place.)
Away from the campaign
President Barack Obama hosts a global Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC. Gordon Brown has chosen to remain on the campaign trail, so while the PM stays at home the would-be Labour leadership contender, and current Foreign Secretary, David Miliband gets an opportunity to do his international statesman routine, flirt with Hillary Clinton and do his leadership chances no harm at all* (*assuming there’s a leadership contest, of course).
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