‘Nicky Morgan has suggested that she could quit rather than serve in a Conservative-led coalition government that includes Ukip. The education secretary condemned as “stomach-turning” remarks by Nigel Farage’s about foreign HIV patients. She said voters were right to ask whether the Tories would share power with Ukip and said “people will have to ask themselves who they are happy to serve with” in the event of a post-election tie-up.’ – The Times (£)
>Today: ToryDiary: Confidence in Cameron returning to Downing Street hits an all-time high in our survey. But watch the small print…
‘British Jews will vote overwhelmingly for the Conservatives, an exclusive JC poll has revealed. Asked who they would support in next month’s general election, 69 per cent of Jewish voters said they would support the Tories. Only 22 per cent said they would vote Labour. David Cameron enjoys substantial personal support among the community. He was said to have the best attitude towards British Jewry by 64 per cent of people. Labour leader Ed Miliband was seen as the best supporter of the community by only 13 per cent.’ – The Jewish Chronicle
‘George Osborne opened the door to removing child benefit from at least another four million families in the next parliament. The chancellor refused to rule out incorporating child benefit into universal credit, meaning that some families earning only £27,000 will no longer be able to claim the £1,000-a-year benefit.’ – The Times (£)
>Today: Dr Eliza Filby on Comment: Cameron’s tree needs Thatcher’s moral roots
‘Tony Blair’s dramatic intervention in the election backfired last night after he said the British people could not be trusted to decide if they want to stay in the EU. The former Prime Minister was widely condemned after saying that membership of the European Union was ‘too important’ to be put to a public vote.’ – Daily Mail
Editorials
>Today: LeftWatch: Five reasons why Labour can’t be trusted on the EU
>Yesterday:
‘Red Ed has almost entirely ignored the ever more dangerous world throughout his four-and-a-half years as Opposition Leader, a Sun investigation has found. Mr Miliband’s inexperience, lack of public thinking, and long-standing reputation for indecisiveness has lead to the belief in the corridors of power that he is woefully unprepared to take charge. One very senior civil servant told The Sun: “Can you imagine Miliband chairing Cobra? Neither can we, it’s a big worry.”’ – The Sun (£)
‘Ed Miliband will announce a new raid on the super-rich today with a plan to scrap the “non-dom” tax status. In his biggest announcement of the election campaign so far, the Labour leader will say that the archaic rule has become a symbol of a system that does not expect everyone to “play by the same rules”.’ – The Times (£)
>Yesterday: LeftWatch: Five reasons why Labour can’t be trusted with the economy
‘Has it been compassionate to end up spending so much that we need to borrow a fortune? Has it been fair? Or decent? You talked about young people and how important they are, but won’t they have to pick up the bill for all the borrowing?…The idea that the left is kind and the right unkind is a pervasive one but one that history doesn’t support. Some of the most grotesque mass murdering dictatorships in the world have come from the left. Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot. Leftism isn’t a certificate of goodness.’ – Daniel Finkelstein, The Times (£)
>Yesterday: Rebecca Coulson’s column: To gauge our success, speak to those who supposedly dislike us
‘Mr Murphy pressed her who she wanted to see in Downing Street, asking the SNP leader: “Nicola, do you want Ed Miliband to be prime minister?” She told him: “I don’t want David Cameron to be prime minister, I’m offering to help make Ed Miliband prime minister.”’ – The Scotsman
>Today: Henry Hill’s Red, White and Blue column: SNP organiser defects to Labour over Nationalists’ covert support for the Tories
>Yesterday: To The Point: Slim or non-existent majorities aren’t a new thing – but fixed terms are
‘Nicola Sturgeon was booed last night as she refused to rule out holding a second independence vote in the next few years – despite having earlier claimed 2014’s referendum was a ‘once in a generation’ event. Two years ago, Miss Sturgeon said of the independence vote: ‘We have always said it’s a once in a generation thing.’’ – Daily Mail
‘Nicola Sturgeon was slammed for demanding Ministers freeze the retirement age in Scotland – a plan that would cost English taxpayers nearly £2billion. Scotland’s First Minister said the Scots should still be allowed to retire at 65 over the coming years – because of the lower life expectancy north of the border.’ – The Sun (£)
>Yesterday: MajorityConservatism: Manifesto Ideas 1) Home Rule for Scotland and England
‘Dozens more company bosses have signed a letter backing Tory economic plans – including a prominent former Labour supporter. By last night, a total of 150 business leaders have signed the letter warning against a ‘change in course’. Among the new signatories is Simon Woodroffe, the founder of Yo! Sushi and a former Labour backer.’ – Daily Mail
‘Labour’s latest plot to weaponise the NHS was in tatters after an anti-Tory letter written by a group of GPs – claiming to be independent – was linked back to the party. It came as Ed Miliband’s latest poster, announcing fewer GPs now offer extended hours, was immediately rubbished after the figures were found to be out of date and wrong.’ – The Sun (£)
>Today: Ryan Bourne’s column: The NHS will have to become much more productive to survive. Not that you’d know it from this election campaign.
‘The heads of some of Britain’s best state schools today warn of the dangers of a Labour government reversing radical education reforms. In a letter to the Daily Mail, 80 current and former leaders say there is clear evidence that academy-style freedoms are benefiting a generation of children. But they say Labour – and some senior Lib Dems – appear to be threatening to reimpose state controls.’ – Daily Mail