General Election
TV debate: Comment and speculation ahead of the second TV debate between the leaders of the UK parties. Tonight’s debate on Sky News will focus on foreign affairs. (Scotsman page 14, Eddie Barnes in the Scotsman, Guardian page 12, Nick Clegg in the Guardian, Timothy Garton Ash in the Guardian, FT page 3, Telegraph page 1, P&J page 12)
Donations: Nick Clegg has been criticised for funding arrangements which saw a series of party donations go into his own bank account. The Lib Dems have said the donations were used to pay for a member of Nick Clegg’s staff. (Telegraph page 1, Herald page 8, Record page 2, Andrew Gilligan in the Telegraph)
Economic recovery: Gordon Brown has said that Liberal Democrat economic plans would put the economic recovery at risk, while Ken Clarke warned that a hung parliament would spark economic chaos and leave the UK in need of help from the IMF. In an interview with the Times David Cameron says a hung parliament would mean instability, uncertainty and higher interest rates. (Scotsman page 12, Express page 4, Times page 1, Times interview, Mail page 12, Dominic Sandbrook in the Mail, FT page 1, Telegraph page 4, P&J page 1, Courier page 9)
VAT on new houses: Scottish housebuilders have criticised Lib Dem plans to add VAT to new homes. (Scotsman page 13, Herald page 8, Sun page 7, Express page 4, Mail page 10, Telegraph page 8)
Egg attack: David Cameron was hit by an egg yesterday during a visit to a college in Cornwall. (Scotsman page 13, Mirror page 6, Sun page 7, Express page 5, Times page 8, Record page 8, P&J page 13)
“Nazi slur”: Nick Clegg has been accused of making a Nazi slur on Britain in stating that the British people have a “more insidious cross to bear” than Germany over the second world war and that the UK suffers from “delusions of grandeur” over having defeated Nazism. (Mail page 1, Telegraph page 5)
Tory EU allies: David Cameron is sending Nick Herbert, the most senior gay member of his front bench, to Poland to encourage the party’s right wing allies to abandon their homophobic views. (Guardian page 1)
SNP campaign: Alan Cochrane in the Telegraph comments that the SNP is running a lacklustre national campaign.
Economy
Unemployment: UK unemployment has risen to a 16-year high of 2.5million people according to figures published yesterday. The statistics revealed that 1 in 5 people in the UK are “economically inactive”. In Scotland the economy grew by 0.2% in the final quarter of 2009 though unemployment figures rose to 208,000. (Scotsman page 4, Sun page 1, Mail page 2, Record page 8, Guardian page 32, FT page 4, Telegraph page 7, P&J page 8, Courier page 14)
Transport
Volcanic ash: UK airports re-opened yesterday, though many services remain cancelled. Gordon Brown has defended the time it took to re-open airspace due to the volcanic ash. Ryanair has been criticised for refusing to pay hotel and food bills of its stranded passengers. (Herald page 1, Mirror page 1, Sun page 13, Express page 2, Times page 7, Mail page 6, Max Hastings in the Mail, Record page 10, Guardian page 1, Telegraph page 10, Courier page 1)
The cost of air travel is expected to go up as airlines try to recoup the £1.1billion cost of the volcanic ash disruption. (Scotsman page 6)
Flights to and from Aberdeen, the Highlands and islands face further disruption from a pocket of ash lingering over northern Scotland. (P&J page 1)
Crime
Sex offenders’ register: Offenders will have the right to challenge their lifetime inclusion on the sex offenders’ register following a ruling by the Supreme Court. (Herald page 2, Mail page 8, Guardian page 6)
Marches: The number of marches and parades in Scotland should be radically reduced according to Les Gray, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation. (Herald page 11)
Health
Swine flu: The Scottish Government has said the swine flu pandemic has cost £55m so far. The Health Secretary also revealed that 500,000 vaccines and 3.4m doses of antiviral drugs remain unused. (Scotsman page 1)
Education
Community schools: Education Secretary Michael Russell has praised as “innovative” plans by East Lothian council to create community schools at arms length from the council. (Scotsman page 10)
Curriculum: Teachers are warning of classroom chaos if the Scottish Government presses ahead with plans to introduce the new curriculum for excellence. A survey of teachers has also revealed that 87% of them lack the confidence to deliver the new curriculum. (Herald page 1, Sun page 2, Mail page 19, P&J page 11, Courier page 13)
