From chickens to kitchens: the key turning points of the election campaign
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Version 0 of 1. It has been one of the longest general election campaigns in history. Thanks to the Fixed Term Parliament Act we have known the date of the election since September 2011 - the first time in British political history the date has been set in law independent from the Prime Minister's control. It meant the election campaign kicked off long before the official short campaign started on 30 March. We have not gone as far back as 2011 but here are the key moments of the election that have made headlines. March 5 - David Cameron rules out a head-to-head debate with Ed Miliband but says he will appear in one with seven party leaders David Cameron is branded a chicken for refusing to debate Ed Miliband head-to-head March 15 - Ed Miliband rules out coalition with SNP but does not exclude a looser deal March 11 - Ibrahim Taguri resigns as Lib Dem parliamentary candidate after The Daily Telegraph revealed that he had agreed to accept a potentially illegal donation.
March 16 - Nigel Farage announces he will quit as Ukip leader if he fails to be elected as MP for South Thanet. March 18 - George Osborne declares Britain the “comeback country” as he delivers his final budget of the Parliament Britain's Chancellor George Osborne stands outside his official residence at 11 Downing Street in London, prior to unveiling the budget March 19 - Ukip’s MEP Janice Atkinson suspended and axed as election candidate over allegations she mis-spent expenses EU expenses. March 20 - Tory candidate Afzal Amin suspended after conspiring with the far-Right EDL group to win votes March 23 - David Cameron rules third term as prime minister and names Theresa May, George Osborne and Boris Johnson as possible future leaders. It invited accusations of arrogance. David Cameron tells the BBC's James Landale that he will not seek a third term as PM 25 March - David Cameron ruled out a rise in VAT at the last Prime Minister's Questions. 25 March - The Government suffered a bitter defeat after ministers tried to change the rules for electing the House of Commons Speaker, seen as a manoeuvre to oust John Bercow after the election. Labour MPs erupted with rapturous applause in an embarrassing defeat for the Government. 26 March - Ed Miliband takes most plaudits in counter-attacking Jeremy Paxman's hostile questions in the first TV showdown between the Labour leader and David Cameron, who came under fire for failing to find answers on food banks and zero-hours contracts. March 30 - Dissolution of the Parliament takes place April 2 - SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon triumphs in the election campaign's only TV debate with all seven party leaders. The seven party leaders April 6 - Nigel Farage issues an appeal for help from Ukip supporters around the country, after it emerged that he is no longer favourite to win the South Thanet constituency. April 8 - The Conservatives are accused of panic and dragging their election campaign into the “gutter” after a Defence Secretary Michael Fallon launched a vicious personal attack on Ed Miliband, claiming he would "stab his country in the back" to become Prime Minister. April 13 - Labour launches its manifesto, claiming to be the party of economic responsibility Labour: “Britain Can Be Better” (AFP/Getty) April 14 - David Cameron promises voters the "good life" as he attempts to change the tone of an otherwise negative campaign, promising to be "the party of working people". April 14 - Conservatives unveil manifesto pledge to extend the right-to-buy scheme for social housing tenants in England. April 15 - Nick Clegg launches the Liberal Democrats' manifesto, pledging to "add a heart to a Conservative government and add a brain to a Labour one”. April 16 - George Osborne wins the endorsement of the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, for the Coalition’s handling of the economy in recent years. April 16 - In a televised 'challengers debate' Ed Miliband refuses Nicola Sturgeon’s offer to do a deal that would “lock David Cameron out of Downing Street” April 20 - Nicola Sturgeon sets out Labour-friendly manifesto The SNP manifesto has targeted full control of Scottish finances April 23 - Boris Johnson admits that “it would be wonderful to be seen as a contender for the leadership” April 24 - HSBC threatens to leave the UK over political uncertainty in the country April 24 - Ukip unveils its manifesto, claiming to be the only party that has fully costed its policy plans. April 25 - David Cameron forgets which football team he supports in an embarrassing gaffe that exposes his fake love of the game. He mistakenly wishes West Ham good luck, instead of his beloved Aston Villa. David Cameron confused Aston Villa and West Ham (Getty) April 29 - David Cameron promises to enshrine in law a legal commitment not to raise taxes April 30 - David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg take part in the BBC Question Time debate - the final TV showdown of the campaign. All face hostile questions from a lively audience. The Prime Minister said a referendum on the EU would be a red line in any Coalition negotiations and the Labour leader said he would rather lose the opportunity to become Prime Minister than do a deal with the SNP. A post-debate poll showed that 44 per cent of people thought Mr Cameron won, compared to 38 per cent for Mr Miliband and 19 per cent for Mr Clegg. Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and David Cameron appeal to the audience during the Question Time special May 2 - A slip of the tongue humiliates David Cameron as he says the election is a "career-defining moment". He quickly corrected himself, saying it was a "country-defining" moment. May 3 - Ed Miliband is ridiculed after unveiling a giant 8ft stone carved with Labour's manifesto pledges, which he says will be placed in the Downing Street garden if he wins power. Ed Miliband unveils his stone of Labour party pledges May 3 - Nick Clegg announces the final of his six red lines - the areas the Lib Dems will not sacrifice in Coalition negotiations include a commitment to raise education spending, raising the personal tax allowance, holding a "stability" budget within 50 days of the election and £8 billion NHS investment. May 3 - Nick Clegg hints that he would be willing to support an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU in order to reach agreement on another Coalition with the Tories. May 4 - SNP protesters are suspended by the party after they hijack a Labour rally in Glasgow and abuse Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy and Labour supporter Eddie Izzard. May 5 - Nick Clegg predicts there will be a second election before Christmas unless the Liberal Democrats are in Government. |