Sebastian Payne

Campaign kick-off: eight days to go

There will be more promises from the party leaders today — plus a comedic twist. David Cameron will pledge a five year ‘tax lock’ that will be enshrined in law, while Ed Miliband will attack the proposed £12 billion welfare cuts and promise to raise working-age tax credits in line with inflation. And then we have Russell Brand. To help guide you through the melée of stories and spin, here is a summary of today’s main election stories.

1. The taxman banished

David Cameron doesn’t appear to feel confident that the electorate believes his promises. Pledging to freeze taxes is something new for the Tories, but the Prime Minister is now promising a ‘tax lock’ law to ensure that the next government will not raise VAT, national insurance or income tax during the next parliament. Cameron will say in a speech in Warwickshire today that the choice at this upcoming election is the ‘clearest for a generation’ and urged voters to look to their stomachs when deciding how to vote:

‘Beyond the plain facts, it comes down to your gut instinct.

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