Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 29 Mar 2015

1. LABOUR GAINS A FOUR-POINT LEAD

Labour has raced into a four-point lead in the polls, reports The Sunday Times. A YouGov survey conducted after this week’s grilling of the party leaders by Jeremy Paxman puts Labour on 36%, with the Tories trailing on 32%. Labour last enjoyed a lead of four points in September, since when most polls have had the two parties tied, or within one percentage point of each other.

2. DEATH THREATS AGAINST BBC BOSS

Police are investigating death threats made against BBC director general Tony Hall. According to the Mail On Sunday, Lord Hall is under 24-hour police surveillance after he received a threatening email about the decision to drop Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill.”

3. EXPERT: DON’T STIGMATISE DEPRESSION

The president of Royal College of Psychiatrists says depression must not be stigmatised in the wake of the Alps plane crash. Professor Simon Wessely has urged calm amid calls for people suffering from depression to be banned from working as pilots. “That is wrong, as much as saying that people with a history of broken arms shouldn’t be allowed to do something,” he said.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

4. CAMERON: ELECTION ‘ON A KNIFE-EDGE’

The general election is on a knife edge, David Cameron with tell Tory activists. As he launches the Conservative election campaign, he will denounce Labour as a “bunch of hypocritical, holier-than-thou, hopeless, sneering socialists”. Meanwhile, he has told the Sunday Telegraph he plans new tax cuts for married couples as he seeks to win back disillusioned Tory voters.

5. ROGER MOORE DENIES RACISM CLAIM

Sir Roger Moore says the suggestion he made a racist comment about Idris Elba is "simply untrue". During an interview with the French magazine Paris Match, the former James Bond star said the next 007 should be "English-English". Following a Twitter storm, Sir Roger insisted the quotes were "lost in translation".

6. CLOCKS MOVE FORWARD FOR BST

Did you remember to put your clocks forward? British summertime has officially begun and the clock change will usher in longer evenings in the months ahead. However, forecasts predict anything but summery weather as parts of the country face snow and 55mph winds. A football match between Bury and Southend was abandoned after six minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

7. MENINGITIS B VACCINE IS AGREED

A Meningitis vaccine deal will save lives, say charities. Following a long standoff over costing, health secretary Jeremy Hunt said Britain would become the first country in the world with a nationwide meningitis B vaccination effort after he reached a deal with drug maker GlaxoSmithKline. The vaccine is expected to go into use from September.

8. NEIL KINNOCK SLAMS TORY ‘GREAT LIE’

The Tories have brainwashed voters into blaming Labour for the economic crash, says Neil Kinnock. In a fiery speech, he said the belief had “etched its way into the consciousness of the British people in tribute to… the great lie almost on a scale practised in Germany before the War”. He added: “I don't compare Osborne, Cameron and Hague and the rest of them to those Nazi criminals.”

9. EASTER EGGS JOIN SUPERMARKET WAR

Supermarkets are dragging Easter eggs into their price war, reports The Sunday Times. After Morrisons slashed the prices of its own-brand eggs, rival supermarkets have reduced Cadbury and Nestle eggs by 4%. Meanwhile, if quirky eggs are your bag then try Fortnum & Mason’s Chotch egg, which is a combination of venison, egg, dark chocolate and juniper.

10. IT’S COLLYMORE V RIO FERDINAND

An online spat between Stan Collymore and Rio Ferdinand has culminated in the former footballer calling on Ferdinand to meet him at Loftus Road. As Ferdinand and team-mate Karl Henry bickered with Collymore, the broadcaster tweeted: “See both of you at #QPR next time i’m there @rioferdy5 @karlhenry08 , you can run your mouths off to my face. God bless.”