´óÏó´«Ã½

UPDATE: MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stepped up his pre-election rhetoric on immigration by telling would-be illegal migrants: "You are not welcome."

He said that we would "reduce the overall need for migration while continuing to attract the key people who will make the biggest contribution to the growth of our economy."

And with Labour facing a challenge in some areas from the anti-immigration BNP, Mr Brown urged a "united front" among the main parties to combat "xenophobia". But he said it was right for politicians to talk about immigration and address people's "needs and fears".

Richard Watson will be bringing us more on that tonight. And we'll be speaking to senior politicians from all the main political parties.

Elsewhere on the programme, Peter Marshall has been investigating why the courts are imposing draconian prison sentences on young people arrested for public order offences at political demonstrations.

And, 16 years after 800,000 people were killed in Africa's largest modern-day genocide, Tim Whewell visits Rwanda to see what challenges face the country as it rebuilds.

Rwanda is moving on but at what cost to human rights?

Do join Jeremy at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

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ENTRY FROM 1213 BST

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stepped up his pre-election rhetoric on immigration by telling would-be illegal migrants: "You are not welcome."

With Labour facing a challenge in some areas from the anti-immigration BNP, Mr Brown urged a "united front" among the main parties to combat "xenophobia". But he said it was right for politicians to talk about immigration and address people's "needs and fears".

Richard Watson will be bringing us more on that tonight.

Our Science editor Susan Watts will be explaining why 'Climategate' may prove to be good for climate science.

And 16 years after 800,000 people were killed in the Rwanda genocide, Tim Whewell finds the country is moving on - but at what cost to human rights and democracy?

More details later.

Tony Blair returned to the centre stage of British politics today, making a speech to Labour members in his old constituency in which he praised Gordon Brown's leadership, the government's record and attacked Tory "vagueness".

It is rumoured that Blair will make several appearances during the campaign - but is he an asset or a liability to his party?

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Tory Chairman Eric Pickles and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne give us their views.

We have the second film from our economics editor Paul Mason asking what's wrong with Britain and how do we fix it?

Tonight, he finds the beginnings of a sustainable economy at Emma Bridgewater's booming family-owned pottery in Stoke, at a London dotcom where they have invented an alternative to banking, and in Margate, with artist Tracey Emin, who believes that a new art gallery soon to open there will transform the place.

Watch the first film here.

And nearly two decades after she famously tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on US television, singer Sinead O'Connor now has strong criticism to make of his successor Pope Benedict XVI.

She has called his letter to the Catholics of Ireland about child abuse by clergy there "an insult not only to our intelligence, but to our faith and to our country", and called on fellow Catholics to boycott Mass until there is a full investigation into the Vatican.

Tonight, she joins us for a live debate on the programme.

Do join Gavin Esler at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.
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FROM EARLIER TODAY...

Here's what we are planning for tonight's programme:

Tony Blair is on the campaign trail today - but is he an asset for the Labour party or a liability?

We have the second film from our economics editor Paul Mason asking what's wrong with Britain and how do we fix it.

Tonight he finds the beginnings of a sustainable kind of economy at Emma Bridgewater's booming family-owned pottery in Stoke, at a London dotcom where they have invented an alternative to banking, and in Margate, with artist Tracey Emin, who believes the new art gallery soon to open there will transform the place.

And we have an interview with Sinead O'Connor who has attacked the Pope over his Church child abuse apology.

O'Connor, who was abused as a child herself, is calling for fellow Catholics to boycott Mass until there is a full investigation into the Vatican.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight the three men vying to be chancellor after the general election - Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable - go head to head in a live TV debate on Channel 4.

It is not the first time chancellor and would-be chancellors have slugged it out on TV, but the financial crisis has thrown a super trouper of a spotlight onto all things economic.

The debate is being watched closely, not least by our Political Editor Michael Crick, who will be assessing how the trio perform.

We will also be looking at Tory plans to block some of next year's planned National Insurance tax rises.

Mr Osborne has dubbed Labour's tax rise "the economics of the madhouse", claiming that seven out of 10 workers would be better off if the Tories won the election.

But the government has hit back with Gordon Brown calling the Tory plan a "panic measure" ahead of the election.

Who are we to believe? We'll ask politicians from the three main parties.

We've also got a report from outside the Westminster bubble. Our Economics Editor Paul Mason has travelled from the south-east of England to the tip of west Wales asking what is wrong with Britain, and how we can fix it.

And, as Home Secretary Alan Johnson takes steps to ban the "legal high" mephedrone and other synthetic drugs within weeks, Susan Watts reports on the tension between a government having to listen to media and public outcry, and the scientists calling for a proper establishment of the facts.

We hope to be talking to Dr Polly Taylor - who resigned from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs saying pressure is being put on scientists and academic freedom is being compromised to please politicians or the press.

Join Jeremy at 10:30pm.

ENTRY FROM 1123BST

Tonight we will be assessing the performances of the three men who want to be chancellor post election - Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable - on Channel 4's live debate.

And explaining the ins and outs of Mr Osbourne's policy announcement that the Tories would block some of next year's planned National Insurance rises.

We have the first of two of films by our Economics editor, Paul Mason which ask what is wrong with Britain?

And our Science editor Susan Watts will be bringing us the latest on the story of the senior government drugs adviser who has quit, just hours before ministers were expected to ban the "legal high" mephedrone.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have finalised a landmark deal to cut long-range nuclear arms, slashing the number of deployed warheads by a third.

Mr Obama hailed the treaty as the most comprehensive weapons control agreement in nearly two decades, saying that it sends "a clear signal that we intend to lead" on the issue of nuclear proliferation.

Tonight, Peter Marshall reports on how significant the foreign policy breakthrough is for Mr Obama, who set out his vision of moving towards a world without nuclear weapons in a keynote speech in Prague almost a year ago, and how likely it is that countries like Iran and North Korea will follow his lead.

We will also be talking to the US State Department.

Michael Crick will be looking at the Conservatives' economic policies, and how, in the wake of the Budget, the party intends to put clear blue water between its plans and those of the government.

For all that and more join Gavin Esler at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

ENTRY FRON 1217GMT:

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev are expected to hammer out the last outstanding issues surrounding an agreement on cutting their nuclear arsenals in a phone conversation later today.

If it goes ahead the deal will represent a major foreign policy score for Mr Obama, so what will the senate make of it, and how will the pact affect relationships between the US and Russia's neighbours?

Michael Crick will be looking at the Tories' economic policies, and the party's promise to outline plans more clearly as polls point towards a hung parliament.

And what are the ramifications of a paywall the The Times newspaper?

More details later.

Here's Kirsty with more details of what we're doing on tonight's programme:
How will the Pope deal with the latest child abuse allegations to hit the Vatican? Tonight he appears to be under more pressure than ever before.

In the 1990s did he fail to respond to letters from an American archbishop about a priest who may have molested as many as 200 deaf boys?

Internal correspondence from bishops in Wisconsin directly to Cardinal Ratzinger, warning him and other top Vatican officials that failure to act could embarrass the church, have been unearthed as part of a lawsuit, according to The New York Times.

The Vatican has denied that there was any cover up and has denounced what it has called a smear campaign against the Pope. We'll discuss where these accusations leave Benedict XVI.

Unions on the march? We examine the impact on industrial relations of this age of austerity. As I write the rail union, the RMT, has just announced four days of strikes from 6 April. Potentially this will be much more disruptive for many more people than the BA strike, and could cause considerable problems for the Labour Party.

And the former commissioner of the Met, Sir Ian Blair, has made a personal film about the problems of policing in Britain in an age of spending cuts. He sets out his ideas for change, including reducing the number of bobbies on the beat (replacing many with Community Support Officers).

We'll be joined by the Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling, Chris Huhne the Home Affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, and Police and Security Minister, David Hanson.

Join me at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

Kirsty
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FROM 1136GMT

The rail union, the RMT, has refused to rule out the possibility of a national strike over planned redundancies.

It would be the first national strike for 16 years and take place over the Easter holiday weekend, bringing the rail network to a standstill at one of the busiest times of the year.

Tonight, we'll be looking at the future of industrial relations in an age of austerity and examining at the state of trade unionism in the UK.

David Grossman has been trawling through the departmental press notices issued by the Treasury yesterday on the £11bn savings from efficiencies and streamlining the centre of government. How credible are they?

We have an authored film by the former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Ian Blair - who has been heavily involved in the wider agenda to modernise policing for the 21st Century - setting out his vision for the future of the force.

And Richard Watson investigates claims made by the Quilliam Foundation that the Islam Channel encourages fundamentalism and sectarianism.

More details later.

MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight we will be analysing Chancellor Alistair Darling's last Budget before the general election.

Our Political editor Michael Crick has been examining the chancellor's statement and our Economics editor Paul Mason will be checking if the figures add up.

Jeremy will be joined by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne, his Conservative shadow Philip Hammond, and Vince Cable, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Meanwhile, Justin Rowlatt will be gauging reaction from people affected by the downturn in the key marginal of Brighton Pavilion for the next instalment of Pop-Up Politics.

And then the Newsnight political panel of Danny Finkelstein, Olly Grender and Peter Hyman will be trying to make sense of it all.

Do join Jeremy at 10.30pm.

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FROM 11:34

The chancellor will be making his final Budget statement before Britain goes to the polls at 1230 today.

Alistair Darling is under pressure to cut Britain's record deficit and has ruled out a pre-election giveaway.

Our Political and Economics editors will be analysing the chancellor's statement, while Justin Rowlatt will be gauging reaction from people affected by the downturn in the key marginal of Brighton Pavilion.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

The heat was turned up again today on a row between Israel and the UK over the use of forged British passports by suspected killers of a Hamas commander in Dubai.

Britain has announced that it is to expel an Israeli diplomat from London and has amended its travel advice for Israel to warn visitors about the risk to their passports and identities.

For its part, Israel says there is no proof it was behind the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January.

Tonight, our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will have the latest on the dispute and will be looking at what it means for diplomacy between the countries, who are ordinarily allies, and for wider dialogue in the region.

Our Political correspondent David Grossman will be assessing the fallout from another row, the cash for influence scandal engulfing Westminster.

Conservative leader David Cameron has called for reform of the system - promising that a Tory government would not allow former ministers to use their government knowledge and contacts for private gain.

He has also called for a full government inquiry into the apparent willingness of Geoff Hoon, Stephen Byers and Patricia Hewitt to help a lobbying firm for cash.

The trio, who all deny wrongdoing, face possible parliamentary investigations.

Our Economics Editor Paul Mason and Political Editor Michael Crick will have the latest Budget briefings ahead of Alistair Darling's statement tomorrow.

And we have our final report from the Salford estate which Newsnight has been visiting for the last 11 years to see how its people have fared under Labour.

In the last two films we looked at the issues of housing, teen pregnancies and school drop out rates. This time it is crime and disorder in the spotlight.

ENTRY FROM 1228GMT

Here's what we are planning for tonight's programme.

The sleaze continues - we'll be bringing you the latest on the three ex-ministers who have been suspended by the Parliamentary Labour Party for bringing it "into disrepute" over lobbying claims.

David Grossman will be considering how to prepare a budget prior to a general election.

Jeremy will have the latest in his series of films from Salford - tonight's is about crime and disorder.

And we'll be across David Miliband's statement about the Israeli diplomat who is to be expelled over the Dubai passport row.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Who do you trust to protect your job, income and the future of Britain's economy?

Tonight, just days away from the last Budget before the general election, we have a special live debate between two of the biggest political figures from the last 30 years - the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and his Conservative shadow, Ken Clarke.

We'll also hear from the Liberal Democrat's Business spokesman John Thurso.

Also on the programme, our Political editor Michael Crick on the lobbying allegations that have rocked Westminster. More revelations are expected later tonight.

And don't forget that we need your help for Pop-Up Politics. Like the temporary shops that pop-up on our recession-hit high streets, Newsnight plans to "pop-up" in your community.

This week we are focussed on the Budget.

ENTRY FROM 1125GMT:

Our Economics editor Paul Mason is taking a look at our fragile economy and will be examining how each of the parties thinks they can secure economic recovery.

We'll be joined in the studio by Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson, and his Conservative and Liberal Democrat shadows, Kenneth Clarke and John Thurso.

Then our politics editor Michael Crick will be explaining the rules of political lobbying - how exactly does it work and how transparent is it?

And Justin Rowlatt has been to Livingston in West Lothian for the first instalment of Newsnight's Pop-up Politics. He asked people there about the state of trust in politics.

On Wednesday, Pop-Up Politics will be looking at Chancellor Alistair Darling's last Budget before the general election. Tell us your stories about how the recession has affected you and thoughts on the economy and we could be despatching Justin Rowlatt your way.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Revelations of paedophilia within the Irish Catholic Church have rocked the institution.

Pope Benedict has written a pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland with guidelines on preventing and punishing sexual abuse of children by priests. The letter will be published by the Vatican on Saturday and read at Sunday Mass.

However the allegations of child abuse are not confined to the Irish Catholic Church and more abuse claims have been emerging across Europe, turning this into a worldwide problem.

Some long-time observers of the Vatican say they've never seen a graver crisis affecting the Church.

Tonight our reporter Paraic O'Brien asks what the Catholic Church can do to recover its moral authority.

We'll have the latest on the BA strike due to start tomorrow.

Plus our science editor Susan Watts reports on the continuing fight for compensation from the government by British haemophiliacs who contracted HIV and Hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood.

Join Gavin at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

ENTRY FROM 1153 GMT

On tonight's programme, what next for the scandal-hit Catholic Church?

Pope Benedict has written a pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland with guidelines on preventing and punishing sexual abuse of children by priests. The letter will be read out at Sunday Mass.

But will it do enough to stop one of the worst crises in the Catholic Church of the last century? Paraic O'Brien has the latest.

And Susan Watts has a report on the British haemophiliacs and their families who are still waiting for compensation after they were infected with viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis C from NHS blood treatment.

Join us at 10.30pm.

HERE'S KIRSTY WITH MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME

Tonight we devote the whole of Newsnight to a crucial issue for society - children in care.

The Government's chief adviser on the safety of children delivered his first report on Wednesday, warning that vulnerable youngsters will be put at greater risk if cuts in public services affect child protection funding.

For the past 17 months we've been getting an insight into life in care. Newsnight's Liz MacKean and Stuart Denman have been following the very mixed fortunes of four "looked after children", Cass, Jareth, Phil and Cherish as they navigate a path to adulthood - well adulthood as deemed by the system in England - at the age of 18.

In a series of Newsnight films we've come to know them, to learn about the problems they face and the support they receive. How they are faring now?

The statistics for children in care are depressing - they do far worse at school, are far less likely to get a job or go to university, and are more likely to go to prison.

But does that mean there should be less intervention, or that the intervention should be radically reformed? We know the dangers of failing to intervene - particularly in the case of Baby Peter, but do we need to rethink the model?

So tonight, with the Care Minister and her Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts, two of the teenagers we've been filming, and care professionals, we address two big issues.

How do we ensure vulnerable children are taken into care ? And once there how do we help them make the best of their lives?

Do join me at 10.30pm

ENTRY FROM 1116GMT

For the last 17 months Newsnight has been following the progress of four youngsters in the care of Leicester City Council as they turn 18.

Tonight we find out how Jareth, Cherish, Phil and Cass Young are doing and take an in-depth look at the care system.

We will be joined in the studio by the two young people in the film and politicians from the three main parties.

We will also hear the views of other professionals as we ask are we failing children who leave care and is the care system fit for purpose?

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight, we have the latest in Mark Urban's extraordinary series of films following the men of A Company, 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) during their tour in Sangin - the most dangerous place in the world for UK troops.

For nearly six months the men have been facing the daily threat of IEDs and snipers, and the strain is starting to tell.

Although mercifully no-one in the regiment has been killed, there have been casualties, and as Mark sees firsthand, there are is also the emotional toll on both the men and their families to deal with.

Also, another fall in unemployment looks like good news for the government.

But as they say, the devil is in the detail. Our Economics editor Paul Mason is poring over the fine print right now, and will be giving us his assessment tonight.

And Richard Watson is in Teesside, where the community is bracing itself for the closure of the region's last steel works and job losses in the public sector.

Can Teesside rebuild itself as a centre for enterprise in the "new economy" as it proposes?

In the studio we will be joined by senior figures from the main parties to debate which of them has the best plan for leading the country to economic recovery.

ENTRY FROM 1126GMT:

We have the third film in our series following the progress of the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) on their tour in one of the grimmest parts of Afghanistan - Sangin in Helmand Province.

Mark Urban went to visit the troops on the ground last month and has again been talking to their families in the UK.

The film gives a rare insight into the emotional toll the daily threat of IEDs and insurgent activity takes and the strain on those waiting at home.

And Richard Watson is in Teesside, where the community is bracing itself for the closure of the region's last steel works and job losses in the public sector.

Can Teesside rebuild itself as a centre for enterprise in the "new economy" as it proposes?

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Israel's ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, has said disagreement over plans to build more Jewish homes in East Jerusalem has triggered a "crisis of historic proportions" between America and Israel.

America was angry with Israel, which is ordinarily a close ally, when Tel Aviv announced the plan for 1,600 homes for Jewish settlers during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden last week.

Now US envoy George Mitchell has postponed a visit to the country.

The row is happening against a backdrop of violent clashes across East Jerusalem, which erupted over the building plan and the re-opening of a 17th Century synagogue near the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Tonight, our Jerusalem Correspondent Paul Report will report on the latest on the disturbances on the ground and the wider diplomatic row.

Jackie Long reports on the largely taboo subject of children sexually abusing children.

Her film includes a powerful interview with a mother who discovered that her seven-year-old daughter was abusing other children, including her brother, having been abused herself.

David Grossman is looking at just how frightened the City is by the prospect of a hung parliament.

And we'll be trying to find out more about the plans of Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB officer said to be worth $2bn, whose purchase of the Independent newspaper is expected to be confirmed shortly.

Entry from 1146GMT:

Tonight, Jackie Long reports on the largely taboo subject of children sexually abusing children. Her report includes a powerful interview with a mother who discovered that her seven-year-old daughter was abusing other children, including her brother, having been abused herself.

What has been done to address the issue, and has government inaction resulted in more victims?

Also, we'll be looking at the strained relationship between Israel and the US, over Israeli plans to build 1,600 homes in occupied East Jerusalem.

And, has a lost work by Shakespeare surfaced? Despite years of academic wrangling, a new book argues that Lewis Theobald's 1727 play Double Falsehood is indeed based on a work co-written by the bard.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS:

First a quick word about something happening tomorrow - Justin Rowlatt will be popping up in Livingston, West Lothian, on Tuesday for Newsnight's very first edition of Pop-up Politics.

He and the team will be at The Centre in Livingston from 1pm onwards and would love it if you could join them - full details on our website www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight

But before that there is the matter of tonight's programme - here's what is coming:

Hot on the heels of Transport Secretary Lord Adonis saying a planned strike by British Airways cabin staff would "threaten the very existence" of BA, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has entered the fray, calling the strike "deplorable" and "unjustified".

Shadow chancellor George Osborne says Mr Brown cannot have it both ways - condemning the strike while at the same time taking money from Unite.

Tonight, Michael Crick examines the relationship between the union and Labour, and how the strike will affect it.

Also, in an interview on Woman's Hour today, Mr Brown signalled that he intends to "keep going" as leader even if Labour fails to secure a majority at the general election.

We'll be joined by political insiders to look at whether this was simply an answer to a direct question, or a message to colleagues and others in the event of a hung parliament.

Also, do public libraries have a future? Should they be saved at all costs or in the digital age are they a luxury that hard pressed local authorities cannot afford? Ahead of Labour's review of libraries, which is due out in a few days, David Grossman has gone to Swindon where there has been a recent campaign to save local libraries.

And Peter Marshall has a film from Washington on the links between British parties and their US counterparts.

Join Jeremy tonight at 10.30 on ´óÏó´«Ã½2

ENTRY FROM 1146GMT

Tonight on the programme we'll be looking at the latest developments in the proposed BA strike, after Gordon Brown called the planned action "unjustified and deplorable".

We will also be looking at the refinancing of Greece's debts, as an announcement of a bail-out is widely expected.

And David Grossman will be exploring some of the challenges facing public libraries - will they be circumvented by digital technology and what is the future of local authority funding?

And Peter Marshall has a film from Washington on the links between British parties and their US counterparts.

More details later.

UPDATE ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME

The Lib Dems have kicked off their spring conference by launching their campaign slogan: "Change that works for you, building a fairer Britain", and the party's leader Nick Clegg promising there will be "no backroom deals" with other parties.

But with talk of a hung parliament in the air it is inevitable that everyone is asking which way the party would jump and calling Clegg the Kingmaker.

Michael Crick is at the conference in Birmingham and he has been spending the day finding out what the mood is on the ground. Gavin will be talking live to senior Lib Dem Chris Huhne.

Also, Nicolas Sarkozy is in London for meetings with Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
It is the French president's first meeting with the Tory leader since 2008, and their relationship over the years has been colourful.

Mr Sarkozy took exception to Mr Cameron's decision in November to withdraw the Conservatives from the European People's Party grouping in the European parliament, a move France's Europe Minister Pierre Lellouche, dubbed "autistic" (a comment he later said he regretted).

So, should Mr Cameron become prime minister, what future for the entente cordiale? Liz MacKean reports.

And, as we go to air we expect preview clips of Samantha Cameron's first TV interview - done with Sir Trevor McDonald and due to air on Sunday - to be released. What will they reveal about her, and will she prove to be an election asset?

ENTRY FROM 1304GMT:

Michael Crick has been despatched to Birmingham where the Liberal Democrat spring conference has got under way today.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is in London for separate talks with Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron.

On the agenda at Downing Street will be the EU summit in Brussels later this month and EU plans to regulate hedge funds, about which the UK has raised concerns.

And when he meets the Tory leader the pair are expected to discuss Mr Cameron's position on European defence issues.

Plus, Mr Cameron's wife Samantha has given her first TV interview to Trevor Macdonald. It will be shown on Sunday but the first clips will be released tonight - what will it reveal?

More details later.

UPDATE - HERE'S KIRSTY WITH MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

It's the new age of the train, ish! At least that is what the Transport Minister Lord Adonis believes - but his vision (five years after it appeared in Labour's manifesto) is limited to a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham with provisional plans to carry on northwards eventually.

The first stage wouldn't be completed until 2025. So how much will it cost?

Will it be green (the system, not the train), and how big will the objections be?

And given the Conservatives say they want to go the whole way, would an incoming Conservative government commit straight away to pushing up to Scotland?

Live tonight on the Newsnight platform each of the Transport briefs - Lord Adonis, Theresa Villiers and Norman Baker.

He was attached to George W Bush at the hip and spurred him on to The White House, and all the way through the Iraq War to 2007, now Karl Rove is the closest man to the former president to have penned a memoir, Courage and Consequence.

Tonight he gives his first UK interview to Newsnight - on weapons of mass destruction, water boarding, and being described by Bush as a "turd blossom".

He says the allegation yesterday by the former head of MI5 Eliza Manningham-Buller that Dick Cheney, Mr Bush and Donald Rumsfeld honed their approach to terror by watching the TV series 24, as "laughable", and claims that America under Barack Obama is a less safe place, now that "exceptional interrogation techniques" like water boarding, are no longer allowed.

And should we still care about the "Concept album"? Today Pink Floyd won a skirmish in the battle to classify their albums as whole entities - rather than being sold as single track downloads.

A founder member of Dire Straits and a member of the band Ash discuss whether the idea of a concept album went out with flares.

ENTRY FROM 1155GMT:

We have an exclusive interview with Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff to President George W Bush, whose autobiography Courage and Consequence has been published. Peter Marshall will be looking at this new account of the Bush presidency.

Also, as the government publishes proposals for a high-speed rail route from London to Birmingham, Michael Crick will be assessing whether the scheme will be hampered by lack of funding and political and environmental opposition.

We are looking at the care of children in this country, as two appalling cases of child abuse conclude in court - Khyra Ishaq and Family Q. Are we failing to protect children adequately?

And Pink Floyd is suing record company EMI for selling individual tracks from their "concept" albums. We'll discuss.

More details later.

Update on tonight's programme:

Tonight we're planning to dedicate the whole programme to education.

Jeremy will be joined in the studio by Ed Balls, Michael Gove and David Laws, as well as people from the teaching profession, a businessman and a former children's Laureate to debate the big issues.

Our politics editor Michael Crick will be examining why education - not a make or break issue for parties in recent elections - is set to be a key battleground in the weeks to come.

The results of an exclusive poll commissioned by Newsnight suggest that the Conservatives are failing to win over voters unsatisfied with

We'll be looking back at Labour's record on education. Have they delivered on Tony Blair's famous "education education education" pledge?

Justin Rowlatt will be asking what education is for, and we'll also be examining choice and cutbacks.

Do join us at 10.30pm.

ENTRY FROM 1149 GMT

Tonight we're planning to dedicate the whole programme to the state of education - which is set to be a key election battleground in the weeks to come.

Jeremy will be joined by Ed Balls, Michael Gove and David Laws to debate the big issues.

More details later.

Update on tonight's programme:

Tonight Newsnight tracks down a former Irish priest named in an official report as a serial sexual abuser of children. Olenka Frenkiel has discovered that the former priest named in the Murphy report has been allowed to live quietly in Britain for many years.

It's been an interesting day on the markets with sterling under pressure after disappointing trade figures. Meanwhile the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, has called on the US to help crack down on the financial speculators he blames for exacerbating his country's debt woes. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has also said that it could be up to the European Commission to decide if Europe should have tougher financial speculator rules.

We've asked Justin Rowlatt to investigate just what it is that these speculators actually do, and find out how powerful they are. He's been meeting the hedge fund manager, Hugh Hendry.

And Stephen Smith will be harnessing the crazy power of the internet and switching his webcam on to Chatroulette, the brainchild of a 17-year-old Russian student. How many times will Stephen get "nexted"? Then we'll be discussing why it is that people behave so differently online.

And don't forget that Newsnight needs your help for Pop-Up Politics. Like the temporary shops that pop-up on our recession-hit high streets, Newsnight plans to "pop-up" in your community. We want to report the policies that matter to you and the issues that you think will swing the election.

Do join Jeremy Paxman at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

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ENTRY FROM 11:58 UK time

Tonight we have a film about a former Irish priest named in an official report into child sex abuse in Ireland's Catholic clergy as a serial sexual abuser of children. The Irish state has failed to bring him to justice and for 10 years he has been allowed to live quietly in Britain. Olenka Frenkiel has investigated the case and tracked him down.

Financial speculators have been attacked by European governments and the US in recent days for inflicting recession on the rich world and starvation on poorer countries. So what is it that these "speculators" actually do, and how powerful are they? Justin will be spending the day with hedge fund manager, Hugh Hendry.

And we'll be taking a look at the internet phenonemon of Chatroulette - the one-on-one text, webcam and microphone-based chat service connecting people around the world.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Sangin in Helmand, Afghanistan, is the most dangerous place in the world for UK troops.
Since the beginning of this month, six UK servicemen have died in Afghanistan - all of them in the Sangin area.

Tonight, we have a powerful report from the troubled region by Mark Urban looking at what is happening on the ground and why the casualty rate is so high.

Mark has spoken to the troops engaged in fighting, the commanders making decisions on tactics and local Afghan leaders about whether progress is being made and the heavy price being paid to achieve it.

Also, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has told Parliament today that the reason why one of toddler James Bulger's killers is back in prison will not be revealed.

Mr Straw said divulging the reason why Jon Venables was returned to jail was not in the "interests of justice".

His announcement came on the day that Denise Fergus, James' mother, appeared on ITV's This Morning programme demanding that she be told what triggered Venables' return to custody.

Tim Whewell has been despatched to Liverpool to find out what local people feel and we will be debating the case in the studio.

Join Jeremy Paxman at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two for all that and more.

ENTRY FROM 1131GMT

A British soldier has been killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in in the Sangin area of Helmand province, the 272nd member of UK forces to have died in Afghanistan since 2001. Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban has recently returned from Sangin - the most dangerous place in the world for UK troops - and we will have his report tonight.

Details of why one of James Bulger's killers has been recalled to prison may be released later, Jack Straw has said. Tim Whewell is in Liverpool to find out what people there think about the case of Jon Venables, who is back in prison after breaching the terms of his 2001 release on licence. What should we do about children who kill?

More later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Don't forget , in which she gives her slant on the interesting and amusing stories that have been circulating on the web, has just been published.

And here's what we have lined up for the programme:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been giving evidence at the Chilcot Inquiry, insisting that the decision to go to war in 2003 was "right" but indicating that he was in the dark about key decisions in the build up to war.

Tonight, David Grossman examines a carefully choreographed performance.

Emily Maitlis has just come back from an interview with controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders who has shown his anti-Islam film in the UK's House of Lords today.

Recent polls suggest that he could soon become one of the most powerful men in the Netherlands.

And Tim Whewell reports on the growing tensions between Germany and Greece as northern Europe faces up to the prospect of bailing out their southern neighbours.

German lawmakers have reportedly come up with a radical plan for Greece to ease its financial crisis and prevent Berlin being stung for a bailout - a fire sale of ancient artefacts with the acropolis itself going to the highest bidder.

And from the German tabloid Bild the suggestion that Greece should flog some of its islands - that would certainly ease accusations of Germans hogging all of the sun loungers on the beach...

All at 10.30pm.

ENTRY FROM 1237GMT:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is giving evidence at the Chilcot Inquiry, insisting that the decision to go to war in 2003 was "right". We will have the latest on that.

We are looking at the culture clash between German and Greece, amid German suggestions that the Greeks should flog some ancient artefacts and islands to ease their financial problems.

And controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders has arrived in the UK to show his anti-Islam film after overturning a ban on entering the country.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ABOUT TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

It's all about age and youth tonight.

First, is the baby boomer generation the most selfish generation ever?

Have the baby-boomers screwed things up completely for the young - enjoying an economic boom, low tax, and big pensions while the young are unemployed, saddled with debt and unable to buy houses?

Justin Rowlatt has been talking to some of these Woopies - AKA a Well Off Older Person - and in the studio we will debate with guests young and old, including David Willetts, MP and author of The Pinch - How the Baby Boomers Took Their Children's Future - and why they should give it back.

Do tell us what you think too.

And are older people taking over the arts too? After decades of complaints about the dearth of good parts for older actors Stephen Smith interviews Sian Phillips, who at the age of 76 has taken on the part of Juliet in a Bristol Old Vic production of Romeo and Juliet where the star crossed lovers and other main characters are pensioners.

Also tonight, we kick off our new "Leaving Party" series, in which we interview MPs who are about to stand down.

In this first report Jeremy talks to two of the Tory old guard, the Wintertons.

ENTRY FROM 1110GMT:

It's all about age and youth tonight.

Is the baby boomer generation the worst generation ever? Have the baby boomers screwed things up completely for the young - enjoying an economic boom, low tax, and big pensions while the young are unemployed, saddled with debt and unable to buy houses?

And are the old taking over the arts too? It was always apparently youth that was most highly prized, but is that changing? Stephen Smith is on the case.

Do tell us what you think too.

Also tonight, we kick off our new "Leaving Party" series, in which we interview MPs who are about to stand down, in this first report Jeremy talks to two of the Tory old guard, the Wintertons.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME

Tonight, our Political editor Michael Crick will be looking back at the life and career of Michael Foot - former Labour leader, lifelong peace campaigner and left wing rebel

And in the studio we will be debating just how the party which he led for three years has changed since he was at the helm.

Also, with the prospect of a hung parliament hanging over us David Grossman reports on what such a scenario would mean both politically and economically, what history has taught us and what role the Lib Dems might play.

Matt Frei has a report from Cuba - a country that largely relies on the past to survive. Tourists flock to cigar factories and Hemmingway's house, and for the regime mythology helps keep it in place, but the past can be both a blessing and curse for Cuba?

Plus, what a load of rubbish... with the River Thames at its lowest tide for five years hundreds of volunteers are trawling the banks for rubbish as part of a clean-up operation. Steve Smith has joined them in the mud.

ENTRY FROM 1116GMT:

With the prospect of a hung parliament hanging over us we take a look at what such a scenario would mean both politically and economically, what history has taught us and what role the Lib Dems might play.

We have a report from Cuba by Matt Frei looking at how much the government there is reliant on nostalgia to keep going.

Plus, what a load of rubbish... with the River Thames at its lowest tide for five years hundreds of volunteers are trawling the banks for rubbish as part of a clean-up operation. Steve Smith will be joining them - cue the puns - surely you cannot refuse...

More details later

Verity

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Director General Mark Thompson will be joining us live on the programme to discuss his plan of action, which includes closure of 6 Music and the Asian Network as well as half of the websites on ´óÏó´«Ã½ online by 2013.

We will also be talking to friends and critics of the corporation about the strategy, the thinking behind it and its impact, and whether it is a good or bad thing.

We also return to the Salford estate which Newsnight has been visiting for the last 11 years to see how its people have fared under Labour.

In January we looked at the issue of housing. This time we look at teen pregnancies and school drop out rates and whether this has changed since the 90s.

Join Jeremy at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

ENTRY FROM 1226GMT:

Unforeseen news events aside, tonight's lead will be the ´óÏó´«Ã½ shake-up. Director General Mark Thompson has announced that digital radio stations 6 Music and Asian Network face closure and half of the websites on ´óÏó´«Ã½ online will close by 2013.

We will be assessing the plan and its impact with big players both inside and outside the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

We also have a report from Salford, a place we have been visiting for 11 years to see how its people have fared under Labour. In this report we look again at the issue of young people dropping out of school, and the high level of teenage pregnancies - has anything changed since the 90s?

More details later.

UPDATE - here's Kirsty with more details of tonight's Newsnight:

We've waited a very long time to find out about Lord Ashcroft's tax affairs.

Now, just weeks away from the election, it turns out that the man who is one of the biggest ever donors to the Conservative party, who was controversially awarded a peerage, and who is at the heart of the Tories' election campaign, does not pay UK tax on earnings outside Britain after all.

He refused to reveal his tax status for years, but now he has stated that he is a "non-dom" - resident in the UK but not "domiciled" in the UK for tax purposes.

Lord Ashcroft has sat in the House of Lords since 2000 but has paid no tax in the UK on his overseas earnings, and he is a deputy chairman of the Conservative party.

Is it right that the Tories' election campaign should be funded by this kind of money? We'll be speaking to Shadow Cabinet member Theresa May, not least to ask her why Lord Ashcroft did not reveal this information of his own volition a decade ago.

(Remember Jeremy Paxman's 2009 grilling of William Hague about Lord Ashcroft's tax affairs? .)

All this as the opinion polls suggest the Conservatives' lead is narrowing.

Two more polls will be published tonight - we'll have the details and we'll be asking Newsnight's three wise politicos (Olly Grender, Danny Finkelstein and Peter Hyman) what appears to be going wrong with the Conservatives' campaign strategy.

Also tonight - are some people with mental health issues dangerous? And is it politically incorrect to talk about links between violence and mental health problems.

Why Did You Kill My Dad? is a documentary that will be shown on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two this evening. It was made by a filmmaker, Julian Hendy, whose father was murdered by a psychotic man with a long history of mental health problems.

Julian Hendy spent three years researching such homicides, and he'll be live on Newsnight tonight in discussion with the Chief Executive of a mental health charity and a representative of mental health trusts.

And Peter Marshall reports on the Virginia jihadis - five young Americans due in court in Pakistan tomorrow where they could face terrorism charges and a lifetime in prison. .

Join me at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.
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Here's what we are planning for tonight's programme:

Following the leaking of e-mails from the University of East Anglia's prestigious Climatic Research Unit, which seem to suggest that figures were being altered because they did not support global warming, the Science and Technology Committee will be taking evidence today from the unit's director, Professor Phil Jones. Our Science editor Susan Watts will be watching.

The Conservative donor and deputy party chairman Lord Ashcroft has admitted he is "non-domiciled" in the UK for tax. How damaging has his affiliation been to the party? Our Political editor Michael Crick will be considering why the Conservative poll lead is narrowing.

Peter Marshall has been speaking to the the five US nationals who were arrested in Pakistan for possible extremist links.

And we'll be asking a documentary film maker and the chief executive of a mental health charity if political correctness means we aren't willing to talk about links between mental health illnesses and violence.

More later.