Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 25 Apr 2015

1. ASHCROFT: MILIBAND IS WINNING WAVERERS

Ed Miliband is winning over floating voters, says Lord Ashcroft. The former Tory deputy chairman, now a pollster, says some people who prefer David Cameron to Miliband are deciding to vote Labour. “Far from crumbling, Miliband has shown a good deal of resilience in the face of some rather unseemly attacks,” he writes in The Independent.

2. BRUCE JENNER SAYS: ‘I AM A WOMAN’

Former Olympic star Bruce Jenner has revealed he is planning to live life as a woman. The reality television star’s transgender transition was the centrepiece of a much discussed two-hour programme on the American network ABC. Janner told Diane Sawyer: "To all intents and purposes I am a woman". He said he had felt that way since childhood.

3. SNP PLANS ‘ENORMOUS INFLUENCE’

The SNP plans to wield “enormous influence” over Labour if the party forms a minority government, admits leader Nicola Sturgeon. Speaking to The Times, Scotland’s first minister said: “I can understand how people south of the border think, ‘Oh my goodness how will it work?’ ” She said that the arrangement could force parties to rely on the strength of argument, rather than numbers.

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4. ‘FLASH CRASH’ MAN LINKED TO GRANDEES

Navinder Singh Sarao, the British financial trader accused of making $40m (£27m) by manipulating US stockmarkets and in the process contributing to the 2010 “flash crash”, has links to establishment grandees. The Guardian says he invested £2m of his profits in a company linked to a former court of appeal judge, a City grandee, a pair of private equity tycoons and a media entrepreneur.

5. WILL GALLOWAY REPLACE MAYOR?

George Galloway could replace Britain’s first Muslim mayor, says The Times. The leader of Respect is facing a battle to prevent Labour retaking the Bradford West seat, which he won in a by-election in 2012. The timetable for electing a replacement for ex-Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman allows a week after the general election result for candidates to be nominated to the post.

6. IS WINTER RETURNING TO THE UK?

It will feel like winter again in parts of Britain this weekend as a blast of Arctic air sends temperatures as low as -6C. One of the warmest Aprils on records now looks like ending on a near-record cold note. The Met Office said overnight temperatures in the north will drop to -1C (30F) at the weekend with the south shivering in lows of around 6C (43F).

7. FARAGE REVEALS HOSPITAL TREATMENT

Nigel Farage has admitted to being "in a great deal of pain" at the start of the election campaign. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the UKIP leader said he had neglected a chronic back condition resulting from a plane crash in 2010 but that he was "back on form" thanks to treatment. He also told the BBC he was receiving private care.

8. AUSTRALIA MARKS GALLIPOLI ANNIVERSARY

Australia and New Zealand are commemorating soldiers who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War One. Events throughout the day are marking the centenary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli on Anzac Day. Prince Charles and Prince Harry are present.

9. TOP GEAR MAN SLAMS ‘MEDDLING’ BBC

Ex-Top Gear producer Andy Wilman has launched a blistering attack on the BBC’s “meddling” executives after quitting the show. Writing in the Top Gear Magazine, Wilman accused bosses of pressuring him to hire a female presenter before the show's 2002 re-launch. Speaking of Jeremy Clarkson, he said the BBC has “lost an editorial genius” who could reshape a structure “in a blaze of light bulb moments”.

10. CAN CITY LEAPFROG THE GUNNERS?

Manchester City hope to leapfrog Arsenal into second place if they beat Aston Villa in the tea-time kick off. The Gunners host Chelsea tomorrow. Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes the club will appoint Ryan Giggs as his successor. Speaking about the Welshman, he said: "I expect that he will be the next manager after I am gone."