1. GOVE RULES OUT TORY/UKIP DEAL
Michael Gove has officially ruled out a post-election deal between the Tories and Ukip. He tells the Daily Telegraph the Conservatives will not “get into bed” with Nigel Farage after May’s poll. He became the first senior Tory to rule out any kind of deal with Farage's party, which he says has now “peaked”, in the event of another hung Parliament.
2. ONE MILLION BRITS USE FOOD BANKS
Over one million British people are using food banks, according to the Trussell Trust. The report from the charity, which is the biggest provider of emergency food aid with more than 400 food banks in the UK, will be held up by Labour supporters as evidence that families on low incomes are not sharing in the benefits of economic recovery.
3. TORIES HOPE FOR JOBS DATA BOOST
The Tories are hoping that record job figures will give their election campaign a fresh boost, says The Times. Employment hit a record and the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since 2008, it was revealed on Friday. There were 31.05m people in work in the three months to February, 248,000 more than in the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics.
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4. AUSTRALIAN ‘TERROR PLOT’ SMASHED
Police in Australia say they have foiled an Islamic State-inspired plot to carry out an attack at a World War One centenary event. A spokesman said officers have arrested five suspects, including two 18-year-olds. They said the men were planning to target police at an Anzac memorial event in Melbourne next week. They say there was a plan to use “edged weapons”.
5. TORIES ‘PANIC-STRICKEN’ SAYS LABOUR
The Tories are “increasingly panic-stricken”, says an adviser to Ed Miliband. David Axelrod says the Conservatives are losing momentum as general election approaches. Speaking to The Guardian, the former campaign strategist for Barack Obama said the Tories “keep pushing buttons that are not working”, which is leading them to “lurch from tactic to tactic”.
6. EX-DPP’s ‘REGRET’ OVER LORD JANNER
A former director of public prosecutions claims he was "never informed" about the investigation into child sex allegations against former Labour MP Lord Janner. Lord Macdonald QC said it was of "great regret" that regional Crown Prosecution Service lawyers failed to refer the case to him in 2007. The present DPP has decided not to bring charges against Janner.
7. ANDERSON SMASHES BOTHAM RECORD
James Anderson has overtaken Sir Ian Botham as England's highest Test wicket-taker. With his 384th dismissal in his 100th match, 32-year-old Anderson had West Indies' Denesh Ramdin caught at first slip on the final day of the first Test in Antigua. He said: "Taking over from an English legend is a hugely proud moment for me.”
8. ELVEDEN PROBE IS ‘IN TATTERS’
Operation Elveden, the long running investigation into allegations of corruption by tabloid journalists, is on the brink of collapse, claim several newspapers this morning. Nine out of the 12 remaining prosecutions were dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service conceded there was little chance of securing convictions against the journalists facing charges.
9. CLARKSON SPEAKS OUT ON SACKING
Jeremy Clarkson has commented publicly about his much-discussed sacking as presenter of the BBC's Top Gear. In his column in The Sun, the controversial broadcaster admitted he would "miss" presenting the show. "Heartfelt thanks to all those who have written to say how much they will miss me on Top Gear," he wrote. "It's not as much, however, as I'll miss being there."
10. CAN GUNNERS SHOOT DOWN READING?
Arsenal take on Reading in the weekend’s first FA Cup semi final this evening. The Gunners are hot favourites to win the tie and reach their second successive final. Meanwhile, in the Premier League Chelsea will host Manchester United. Victory for the Blues would take them 10 points clear, but a win for United would take them above Arsenal and into second place.
