Through the mass of parties, we can see the contours of two opposed and increasingly solid political blocs composed along traditional lines.
The five of them go head-to-head.
“Is it the case that you would rather see David Cameron go back into Downing Street than work with the SNP?”
How could the Conservatives get by without a majority and outside a coalition? With equal parts of humility and clarity.
Having failed to destroy the Union by turning Scottish voters against it, Salmond now proposes to do so by turning English ones against it instead.
Also: the DUP rule out any formal parliamentary arrangement with the SNP; and the Tories grant the Welsh Assembly powers of redefinition.
Meanwhile, Scotland is perhaps the most disruptive force in modern British electoral history.
There has been no escape from the need to cut spending – but the cuts have been poorly managed.
The march of the populist left could see the party confined to its heartlands – or stripped of them.
Playing up Nicola Sturgeon to undermine Ed Miliband is a tempting game to play – my enemy’s enemy is my friend – but it is ill-judged, and is playing with fire.
The Defence Secretary argues that the Labour leader would be in thrall to Scottish nationalists who would strip Britain of its nuclear deterrent.
Ed Miliband’s party is only the sixth least popular choice as a potential Conservative coalition partner. Read all about it.
Take it all with a pinch of salt. Do your best and, cometh the hour, “treat those two imposters just the same”.
The Scottish leaders’ debate: they clash on the economy.
We will increase the defence budget by more than inflation; not reduce the size of the regular armed forces further, and replace the four existing Vanguard submarines.