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He has been prime minister since 2007, through the financial crisis and the MP expenses scandal, and now he wants your vote to carry on.

Tonight, Gordon Brown faces Jeremy Paxman, who will be asking Mr Brown what he wants to do with five more years in power.

The interview will be broadcast at 2030 on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and we'll have highlights at 2230 on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

And Michael Crick is in Morley and Outwood, for our final Friday Night at the Marginals.

The area's traditional industries, such as textiles in Morley and mining in Outwood, have all but vanished, though the constituency has made a good recovery, buoyed by a diversified economy and proximity to the booming city of Leeds.

But can Ed Balls hold on to his seat here in the face of a strong challenge from Antony Calvert of the Conservatives? And what impact has Cleggmania had on Labour's chances of holding on to this seat and others like it?

More details later.

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

In an election which has been completely transformed by the television debates - tonight might be the night that crystallises enough votes to make a big difference come next Thursday's polling day.

The debate finishes at 10 o'clock and Newsnight will be on air just half an hour later with a specially extended edition.

We'll bring you the edited highlights and our political and economics editors will analyse the key moments.

We'll also have the first snap polls and reaction from senior politicians.

Will Gordon Brown refer to his behaviour yesterday when his public actions seemed to contrast with private vitriol? Having been caught calling a long time Labour voter "bigoted", Mr Brown said he was "mortified", but will he repeat his apology to the Rochdale grandmother on air tonight?

And how will David Cameron and Nick Clegg deal with the matter? Politicians are not held in high regard as a species after the expenses scandal, so will the two men concentrate on policy not pot-shots?

The first half of the debate tonight will deal with the economy - and today The Economist came out for the Conservatives - a blow for Gordon Brown, but will each of the men respond with more detail to possible questions on the deficit?

We'll be drilling down into their answers with our Political Panel Danny Finkelstein, Peter Hyman and Olly Grender, who'll also be giving their sharp observations of how the three performed...

We'll get the atmosphere from Emily who will be in the chaos of the spin room getting reaction from the three parties.

Justin Rowlatt will be looking at the reaction from viewers - from the acid comments on twitter, to the ups and downs of "the worm".

And at the low tech end, Stephen Smith is in his usual spot at the motorway services at Donington on the M1 where he'll be finding out what the Motorway Men and Women thought of the debate.

And how will the newspapers report it tomorrow? We'll have the latest editions.

ENTRY FROM 1215BST

Tonight the final prime ministerial debate will be broadcast by the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg will meet to discuss what many argue is the most significant policy issue of the election - the economy.

Tonight we bring you an hour-long programme, assembling key election campaign players and commentators.

Our Political editor Michael Crick will give instant poll reactions and our Economics editor Paul Mason will deliver his expert analysis of the economic questions under debate by the three leaders.

Motorway man Stephen Smith will gather his Donington Park voters to give their views on how it went.

Emily Maitlis will be broadcasting live from the "spin room", where she will be talking to senior politicians from the three main parties.

And Justin Rowlatt will be looking at reaction online and via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ "worm".

Do join us at 10.30pm

More detail on what we'll be doing on tonight's Newsnight:

Gordon Brown has said he's "mortified" after being caught on microphone describing someone he had just spoken to as a "bigoted woman".

Michael Crick's been blogging on Brown's 'bigot' blunder all afternoon and he'll be bringing us the latest on the story tonight.

Then Jeremy will be joined by Olly Grender, Danny Finkelstein and Peter Hyman to discuss Gordon's gaffe and how it might impact Labour.

Paul Mason will be investigating the likelihood of a spreading crisis as the euro falls to a fresh one-year low against the dollar amid speculation over the future of the Greek economy.

And comedian Danny Robins will be here with the finale of our Newsnight party anthems project. Danny has been busy helping create songs which sum up what each of the three big political parties stand for.

Tonight Ben Bradshaw, Sarah Teather and Grant Shapps will be giving their reaction to the election anthems written for them by new ravers , pop duo and grime act . And he'll be joined in the studio by some of the musicians who took part.

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

David Grossman will be exploring the different scenarios and outcomes that we might be waking up to post-election, with the help of Olly Grender, Peter Hyman and Danny Finkelstein.

European markets have continued to fall heavily amid speculation over the future of the Greek economy, and Paul Mason will be investigating the likelihood of a spreading crisis as the euro falls to a fresh one-year low against the dollar.

Michael Crick is in the West Midlands to watch preparations for tomorrow's leaders' debate.

And comedian Danny Robins will be here with the climax of our Newsnight party anthems project. Danny has been busy helping create songs which sum up what each of the three big political parties stand for.

Tonight Ben Bradshaw, Sarah Teather and Grant Shapps will be giving their reaction to the election anthems written for them by Hadouken!, Right Said Fred and Nu Brand. And we'll be joined in the studio by some of the musicians who took part.

More details later.

MORE INFORMATION ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

A leading independent think tank has today accused all of the main parties of unwillingness to grasp the nettle when it comes to Britain's enormous deficit.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said voters were being deprived of an "informed choice" as neither Labour, the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats came "anywhere close" to identifying where the savings necessary to cut the deficit would be made.

IFS director Robert Chote said: "Repairing the public finances will be the defining domestic policy task of the next government. For the voters to be able to make an informed choice in this election, the parties need to explain clearly how they would go about achieving it. Unfortunately, they have not."

Tonight, Paul Mason will be crunching the numbers and Mr Chote will face senior politicians from those three parties in the studio as Kirsty Wark leads them in a debate about whether any of them are being honest with the electorate.

The Court of Session in Edinburgh has begun hearing a case brought by the Scottish National Party, challenging its exclusion from Thursday's final prime ministerial debate.

The court has just been adjouned until tomorrow - we'll be joined live tonight by the SNP leader Alex Salmond.

Labour this week promised to "up the tempo" of their campaign - David Grossman is following the prime minister in Glasgow where Gordon Brown has been meeting voters.

But is the prime minister in danger of being side-lined - packed off around the country for a series of photo ops, while Lord Mandelson runs things in London?

Michael Crick is in Bolton assessing how David Cameron's latest Big Society speech has gone down with voters in a Tory target seat.

And we have the second Memo to the Minister from the writers of Yes Minister. Tonight Sir Humphrey grapples with the Lib Dem manifesto.

ENTRY FROM 1143GMT:

Gordon Brown is in Glasgow today, leaving Peter Mandelson to run Labour's daily press conference in London, and so is our correspondent David Grossman. David will be following the PM as he spends the day campaigning.

Michael Crick is heading to Bolton, which is where David Cameron will be later on - an area with two Labour seats which would need a swing of 6% for a Conservative win. The Tories say they have identified 20 Labour-held seats which they believe could now be winnable because of the Lib Dem surge.

Paul Mason will be looking at the Institute For Fiscal Studies' report on the deficit.

We hope to have an interview with SNP leader Alex Salmond.

And we will have the second Memo to the Minister written by Yes Minister co-writer Sir Antony Jay. Tonight Sir Humphrey grapples with the Lib Dem manifesto.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

With opinion polls continuing to suggest that we are heading towards our first hung parliament since 1974, the war of words over what such a result would mean for Britain intensified today.

The Conservatives dubbed a hung parliament "stitch up politics" which would "paralyse" the economy.

Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg took an opposing view saying it could usher in political reform and end the "preposterous" current system.

While Labour's Gordon Brown argued it was "arrogant" to discuss Westminster deals before voting happens on 6 May.

But even as the parties are trying to push out their pro or anti hung parliament messages, they are also preparing for such an eventuality.

Tonight, Michael Crick will report on what inter-party deals could be on the table and we will be talking to some of the main players.

Paul Mason is looking into why two-party politics is on the decline and the social and economic trends driving this change. We will be talking to commentators, including author Jeanette Winterson and historian Andrew Roberts.

In his interview with Jeremy Paxman on Friday, David Cameron indicated that the north-east of England and Northern Ireland may face a public sector squeeze under the Tories.

A report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research published today says that public spending as a share of GDP is close to 50% - up from 37% in 1998/99 - and that in Northern and Wales public expenditure is about 70% of GDP.

David Grossman has been despatched to Belfast to find out if the situation there is sustainable in this time of massive public debt.

And, in a Newsnight exclusive, Yes Minister's Sir Humphrey Appleby returns to TV tonight after more than 20 years.

Sir Antony Jay, writer of the classic political comedy Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister has penned three special election episodes for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Newsnight.

In each episode we see Sir Humphrey grappling with how the civil service should respond to party manifesto promises, ahead of the arrival of the new minister - up first the Conservative manifesto.

The role of Sir Humphrey, made famous by Sir Nigel Hawthorne, will be played by Henry Goodman who will also be playing the same role in the forthcoming theatre production of Yes Prime Minister at Chichester Festival Theatre.

ENTRY FROM 1253BST:

Tonight, in a Newsnight exclusive, Yes Minister's Sir Humphrey Appleby returns to TV after more than 20 years.

Antony Jay, writer of the classic political comedy Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister has penned three special election episodes for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Newsnight.

In the first episode, to be broadcast tonight, we see Sir Humphrey grappling with how the civil service should respond to party manifesto promises, ahead of the arrival of the new minister.

The role of Sir Humphrey, made famous by Sir Nigel Hawthorne, will be played by Henry Goodman who will also be playing the same role in the forthcoming theatre production of Yes Prime Minister at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Also tonight, after a weekend of extraordinary party positioning, Michael Crick will be looking at what possible cross party deals could take place in the event of a hung parliament.

In his interview with Jeremy Paxman on Friday, David Cameron indicated that the north-east of England and Northern Ireland may face a public sector squeeze under the Tories.

David Grossman has been despatched to Belfast where William Hague is visiting today.

More details later.

Tonight we have a special Saturday edition of Newsnight hosted by Jeremy Paxman - at the much earlier time of 6.20pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two. Here's what is coming up:

Jeremy will be discussing the events of the day - and the week - with the politicians Harriet Harman, Theresa May and Simon Hughes.

He will also be joined by the comedians Rufus Hound and Ed Byrne, and by novelist and editor of The Lady magazine, Rachel Johnson.

He will be talking live in the studio to Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party (BNP), who launched his party's manifesto on Friday.

And Justin Rowlatt has a report from Barking where Mr Griffin is standing to become the constituency's next MP and where the BNP is aiming to win control of the local authority.

We should add of course that BNP members are not the only candidates in Barking and you can see a full list of those vying to be the next MP and a full list of those standing in the council elections .

Plus we will have the latest animation of how the campaign is unfolding from Apple Daily - the Taiwanese TV team whose past political films and "reconstruction" of the Tiger Woods car crash became an online sensation.

Join us if you can at 6.20pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, or failing that the programme will be available afterwards on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer, and highlights will be appearing on the Newsnight website.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME

Jeremy Paxman is at this moment gearing up for his one-to-one interview with Conservative leader David Cameron. Tonight on the programme we will be broadcasting the best bits of that interview.

For the latest in our Friday Night at the Marginals series our Political editor Michael Crick is in Norwich South - home of Colman's the mustard manufacturer - where Charles Clarke's seat is under pressure from the Lib Dems, the Tories and the Greens.

And our Economics editor Paul Mason will be looking at the latest GDP figures, which have shown that the UK economy is continuing to recover from recession, but at a slower pace.

We hope to be speaking to a cabinet minister on this and other election issues.

ENTRY FROM 1126BST

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has already submitted to a Paxman grilling, and tonight (at 8.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One) it is David Cameron's turn answer Jeremy's questions about what he stands for and what he would do if he became prime minister.

We'll be showing highlights of the interview on our programme tonight.

Our Political editor Michael Crick is in Norwich South - home of Colman's the mustard manufacturer - where Charles Clarke's seat is under from pressure from the Lib Dems, the Tories and the Greens.

And we are awaiting the High Court verdict on whether Sharon Shoesmith was unfairly sacked following the public outcry over the death of Baby Peter today.

More details later.

UPDATE - HERE'S KIRSTY WITH MORE DETAILS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Last Thursday's Prime Ministerial Debate dropped a depth charge into the election campaign and Nick Clegg has been feeling the reverberations in the opinion polls ever since.

So the expectations surrounding tonight's "performances" are huge. And tonight the territory for the first half of the debate is foreign policy, global affairs and defence - immediately setting the Liberal Democrats apart from the Tories and Labour on not one, but two profound strategic, and ideological policies - the war in Iraq, and Trident.

The nuclear deterrent is non-negotiable for the two bigger parties, while the Lib Dems say the cost of a "like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system" is too high and want to find alternatives.

Europe is another fault line in the debate which will be overall I think, a tougher, dirtier affair than last week. They're all practising hard for it (once again Alastair Campbell is playing the role of David Cameron in Gordon Brown's rehearsals).

We will have the best of the debate, top notch analysis from our Political Editor Michael Crick who'll have the instant poll results on who won, and from our Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban.

Emily will be live from Bristol with a trio of political heavyweights - David Miliband, Paddy Ashdown and William Hague.

And here, our star panel of Danny Finkelstein, Peter Hyman and Olly Grender who will have been watching with the trained eyes and ears of political insiders, will give the three men no quarter.

Justin Rowlatt will track the reaction of undecided voters with "the worm" and will be monitoring all manner of social media - which has already been in ironic overdrive today after the front page attacks on Clegg. Now everything is "#nickcleggsfault". Even Peter Mandelson came to his defence.

Steve Smith is camped out as usual on the side of the M1 gathering the comments and criticisms from his Motorway Men and Women.

A TV critic and body language expert will score the gestures and tics, and how the three men responded to the straitjacket of 76 rules... and two sketch writers will tell us how they'll be writing it up in tomorrow's newspapers.

I do hope you can join us tonight on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two at 10.30 for an hour-long debate special.

Kirsty

ENTRY FROM 1134BST

Anyone who thought the middle prime ministerial debate wouldn't generate much interest, think again.

Nick Clegg's performance last week and the subsequent Lib Dem poll boost is making a hung parliament look like a real possibility and has piled the pressure on all three participants.

Can Clegg match the expectations upon him this time? How will Cameron and Brown perform and will they turn on the Lib Dem leader this time?

Tonight, we have an hour-long programme focussing on the second debate with Emily Maitlis at the venue in Bristol and Kirsty Wark in our studio in London.

This week's debate is on foreign affairs and we will have analysis from our diplomatic and defence Editor Mark Urban and our political team of Michael Crick and David Grossman.

Justin Rowlatt will have instant analysis of how the performances have played out on the web and Motorway Man Stephen Smith will be finding out what the voters at the Donington Park services think.

We will be talking to senior politicians at the debate venue and our political panel will be gathered in London.

More details later.

More details on what's happening on tonight's Newsnight:

Tomorrow night sees the second of three Leaders' Debates between Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

The Liberal Democrat leader is widely perceived to have 'won' the first debate which led to a sudden surge in support for the party - described by our Political editor, Michael Crick, as "certainly the most interesting development in any election in the 30 years in which I have been covering them".

Michael is in Bristol tonight, keeping an eye on the preparations for tomorrow's debate, and he'll be assessing what the Labour and Conservative strategies for dealing with the Lib Dems might be.

Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will also be looking ahead to tomorrow's foreign affairs debate where Trident is likely to be a key focus, with Brown and Cameron expected to attack Clegg over his proposals to scrap it. Read more on Mark's blog - where he also recounts a memorable lunch at which former Newsnight presenter Peter Snow pressed naval chiefs about Trident's phallic symbolism.

Britain's unemployment figures have reached their highest since 1994 with 2.5 million people now out of work. Our Economics editor Paul Mason is in Redditch - the West Midlands new town which is home to light industry and Halfords' headquarters - to speak to people there about unemployment, and to investigate what the three main parties are planning to do to create jobs in the future.

And comedian Danny Robins returns with the next instalment of Newsnight's Party Anthems - where he helps the three big parties set their manifesto promises to music to try to get their political messages across. Watch his first attempts at songs for , the , and the .

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

Our political editor Michael Crick is in Bristol to keep an eye on preparations for tomorrow's TV leaders debate. What are the Labour and Conservative strategies for dealing with the Lib Dems?

The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 43,000 to 2.5 million during the three months to February bringing the jobless total to its highest since 1994.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason is in Redditch - the West Midlands new town which is home to light industry and the headquarters of Halfords - to speak to people there about unemployment, and to investigate what the three main parties are planning to do to create jobs in the future.

Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be asking if Nick Clegg's scrap Trident policy is credible.

And comedian Danny Robins returns with the next instalment of Newsnight's Party Anthems - where he helps the three big parties set their manifesto promises to music to try to get their political messages across.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight, Paul Mason looks at what has changed in the banking system since boom and bust left the state picking up the pieces.

And, in a live interview, Jeremy Paxman will be asking Chancellor Alistair Darling whether his party, which was at the helm during the crash, can really be trusted to change the banks.

Plus, as hopes that most UK flights could soon return to the air are dashed by more volcanic ash drifting south from Iceland, Susan Watts examines the science behind the decisions being made and whether the air authorities from another region would have made a different choice.

We will also have the latest on how the plan to use Spain as an extraction point for stranded Britons is faring.

Also tonight, Michael Crick is in Dundee, and we have a live interview with Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond who, when launching his party's manifesto today put the case for a hung parliament and called for Scottish electors to vote SNP and achieve a "balanced parliament".

And we have the next instalment of Motorway Man, which this week sees Margaret Beckett arriving in her caravan and Stephen Smith weighing up the election odds with racing pundit John McCririck.

ENTRY FROM 1124BST:

As a new volcanic ash cloud means that plans to open swathes of airspace have been significantly revised, Susan Watts asks how robust is the science behind the decisions being made?

Are we relying on a system which is too inflexible and puts too much emphasis on modelling rather than empirical evidence?

Also, the political parties know there are votes in attacking banks, but who has the most radical and credible policies on financial services and balancing the wider economy?

Paul Mason will be looking at each of the main parties' plans and we have a live interview with Alistair Darling.

Michael Crick is in Dundee. The SNP manifesto is out today, and tonight we have a live interview with party leader Alex Salmond.

And we have the next instalment of Motorway Man, which this week sees Margaret Beckett arriving in her caravan and Stephen Smith weighing up the election odds with betting pundit John McCririck.

UPDATE ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

The UK's air traffic control authority, Nats, has announced that airspace north of a line between Teesside and Blackpool will be opened again from seven o'clock tomorrow morning. Airspace in the rest of the country may be lifted later in the day though they warn that it is a "dynamic and changing situation".

Making the announcement, the aviation authority said: "It is now for airports and airlines to decide how best to utilise this opportunity."

European airline operators, which have been haemorrhaging money since the ban began, have been pushing for flights to be allowed.

Tonight, we'll have the latest on the situation and Peter Marshall will be reporting on the handling of the crisis. Has the government been put under commercial pressure, or have the authorities, as some operators suggest, been too cautious in their airspace restrictions?

We hope to be speaking to both government and business insiders.

We've packed Tim Whewell onto the Dover ferry to find out if the Dunkirk spirit is alive and well with Brits battling the odds to try to get home.

While the cloud of travel uncertainty continues to hover over the country, we'll be asking what this tells us about ourselves as an island nation and if - despite all the inconvenience - there is actually a silver lining to all this, which is forcing us to re-embrace the spirit of travel from a bygone age.

Also tonight, how should the Conservatives tackle the apparent rise in support for the Liberal Democrats? Michael Crick is in Bournemouth West where that increased support could really matter. A Conservative seat for 60 years, Sir John Butterfill is standing down at this election and the Lib Dems need just a 4% swing to win it. So what are their chances of taking the seat from the Tories? We'll be joined by strategists to discuss how the parties should respond.

Join Jeremy at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.
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FROM EARLIER TODAY:

The body that represents the world's airlines, IATA, has criticised Europe's governments for the way they closed air space because of volcanic ash.

Tonight, we'll be seeking a response to the criticism from within business and government.

We've despatched Tim Whewell to find out if the Dunkirk spirit is alive and well with Brits battling the odds to try to get home.

Emily Maitlis will be demonstrating what the rise in Lib Dem support could mean for Labour and the Conservatives with a little help from the Election 2010 touch-screen.

Michael Crick is in Bournemouth West where Conservative Sir John Butterfill is standing down. A Tory seat since its creation in 1950, the Lib Dems would need a 4% swing to win it.

And Paul Mason will be asking why Labour is the only party not proposing to do something on a national, sovereign scale about banking.

More details later.

Here's Emily with more details about this evening's programme:

On the train back from Manchester this morning I didn't meet one person who had watched the TV debate. But I met several people who told me Nick Clegg had won. And so, the story has been written. Twitter now has its own hashtag stolen from the Gordon Brown repetition #iagreewithnick.

Tonight we will be asking how the emergence of Nick Clegg as the debating frontrunner could change the electoral landscape and change the parties' tactics when it comes to campaigning.

Will the Tories alter their attack in the Lib Dem marginals of the South West? Will Europe suddenly enter the campaign as a subject to, well, literally, put clear blue water between them?

And what about Labour - is a strong Lib Dem presence a help or a hindrance?

Michael Crick is in the 3-way marginal of Bristol North West, in a golf club no less. Expect lots of swing metaphors there then.

Last night history was also made in the Labour marginal of Crawley, where people living close to Gatwick airport finally got a good night's sleep. Psephologists are working, as I write, to assess how many other airports lie in Labour marginals where voters are perhaps feeling better disposed to the government after an 8 hour, noise-free kip.

Here on Newsnight, however, we're taking a rather more scientific approach. Susan Watts will assess what the impact of all that ash could be for the economy, the environment and our health.

So join us at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 2 tonight for all that.

And don't forget to join Jeremy on Saturday evening at 7.50pm on the same side for a special weekend Newsnight.

He'll be joined by Ed Vasey, Tessa Jowell and Chris Huhne to discuss the events of the day. Comedian Mark Watson, Rebecca Front of The Thick of It, and Jesse Armstrong the co-writer of In The Loop will also be there.

And they'll have a special report from Buckingham where UKIP candidate Nigel Farage is hoping to unseat John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, at the general election.

Emily
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From earlier today:

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have faced each other in the UK's first ever TV prime ministerial debate. The three leaders clashed over spending cuts, tax and political reform in the 90 minute programme, the first of three debates before the election. Most of the snap post-debate polls scored Nick Clegg as the winner on the night. So what could this mean for the electoral landscape?

Michael Crick is in Bristol Northwest for us tonight. The seat has been represented by 9 MPs since 1950, and they have all been members of the winning party in each general election.

We'll also be speaking to Ed Balls.

And our Science editor Susan Watts will be bringing us the latest on the volcanic eruption in the southwestern part of Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier that has released a significant volume of ash into the air. Flights across the UK are to remain grounded for a second day as the volcanic ash drifts across Europe.

More later.

HERE'S KIRSTY WITH SOME DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight's live televised prime ministerial debates will make political history, and no sooner than they leave their lecterns, Newsnight will be on air with a specially extended programme.

We will have the best moments, all the drama (we hope) and the finest analysis.

The leaders have all been preparing hard for it, with some of Obama's team pitching in on both Labour and Tory preparations, but there's been squabbling about the rules already - will it go according to the detailed plans or will it go off piste?

We have a whole range of guests giving us their reaction.

Emily will be there in Manchester with some of the senior politicians who have swamped the venue, and who will have come from what's called "spin alley" where they'll be trying to influence journalists' perception of the debate.

The SNP leadership will be chipping in with their response, and here in the studio we'll have reaction from the critic AA Gill and the body language (or should I say anthropological) expert, Judi James.

Although the rolling news channels can't make comment in the midst of the debate - the social networks will be going full steam, and we'll reflect some of that response.

We'll be hearing from Newsnight's political panel, who'll be watching intensely for every tic and trip, and also from two of tomorrow's papers leader writers.

Don't miss what will be an historic night for British politics.

ENTRY FROM 1237BST

Erupting volcanos, giant ash clouds and UK airspace being shut down aside, there is only one show in town tonight - the first of the televised prime ministerial debates.

Tonight our programme will be one hour long - we've managed to squeeze 10 extra minutes out of the schedulers to bring you the best reaction and analysis the license fee can buy.

You get not one, but two presenters - Kirsty Wark will be in London and Emily Maitlis in Manchester.

Political Editor Michael Crick will be giving us up to the minute reaction and analysis.

There will be reaction from senior Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians and veteran US broadcaster Charlie Rose will tell us how the debate compares with US Presidential debates.

Justin Rowlatt will be asessing how the debates have played out in social media and Newsnight's political panel of Danny Finklestein, Lance Price and Olly Grender will join us in studio.

MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

As if we hadn't had enough excitement with the launches of the Labour and Tory manifestos, today Nick Clegg unveiled the Liberal Democrats' offering.

It promises to "hardwire fairness into British society" by, among other things, raising the personal tax allowance to £10,000 per person.

They say they'll pay for it by restricting pension tax relief to the basic rate and clawing back over £4bn lost to tax avoidance each year.

It all adds up, they claim.

We'll be asking the party's Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable if it really does.

And Michael Crick followed Nick Clegg to Oldham - where an unseemly spat over dirty tricks allegations has been playing out between the Lib Dems and Labour.

If your preferred party has no chance of winning where you live, should you consider voting for the least worst party that might?

David Grossman will be investigating the use of tactical voting - he's been to the marginal Labour-held seat of Hastings to see if it can work.

Electoral politics is about to change forever in this country.

Tomorrow the leaders of the three main Westminster parties will debate live on television for the first time.

David Cameron says he's worried the public might feel short-changed and that the debate format may end up being "a bit slow and sluggish".

We'll have the latest on the preparations by the party leaders and our political panel will hold their own debate.

Also tonight, the comedian Danny Robins will be trying to find out if political messages might be more effective in song.

He has three candidates on board and leading bands and songwriters in tow.

The experiment starts tonight, complete with barber shop quartet.

ENTRY FROM 1205BST:

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has unveiled his election manifesto's "four step" plan to make Britain a "fairer country".

The four main themes of the 103-page booklet are fair taxes, more chances for children, a fairer and greener economy, and cleaning up politics.

Michael Crick has attended the launch and will be giving us his analysis.

And we will be talking to Vince Cable live on the programme.

David Grossman is looking at the issue of tactical voting and what impact it has had in the past.

And we have the first in a series of films by comedian Danny Robins trying to see if putting politicians' messages to music can help re-connect voters with politics - stand by for everything from barber shop to blues to rap.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAIL ON THE PROGRAMME

First things first - if you live in a marginal seat we want to hear from you... Not because we're standing for election, but because if you live in a marginal and there's a public hustings between the candidates coming up we'd like to know so we can send a Newsnight team to record the event for posterity.

Tell us when and where it is, and if there's a good local spat going on between the parties - or a divisive local issue - or allegations of dirty tricks - any of the things which make an election more fun and lead to a rowdy hustings.

Put HUSTINGS in the e-mail subject heading, and send it to newsnight@bbc.co.uk

Right, on to tonight's programme - here's what is coming up:

Invoking the spirit of JFK at the Conservative manifesto launch today David Cameron quoted the US president's famous call to action: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Mr Cameron said that the manifesto was "the biggest call to arms this country has seen in a generation", insisting that government should be the "partner of the big society, not its boss" and urging "everyone to get involved".

Tonight, David Grossman will be assessing what kind of change the Conservatives are offering, and just how radical their plans are.

A key pledge is helping people to set up their own schools - we will be talking to shadow education secretary Michael Gove.

And Michael Crick is in the Tory target seat of Keighley, Yorkshire, gauging reaction to the measures and asking whether people are likely to heed Mr Cameron's "Invitation to join the Government of Britain".

Plus we have the next instalment of Motorway Man in which we see Newsnight correspondent Stephen Smith "embedded" in Donington Park - a motorway service station and key election battleground.

Join Jeremy at 10.30pm.

ENTRY FROM 1225BST:

Today Conservative leader David Cameron is launching his party's manifesto urging voters to help him build a "better future". Speaking in south London he said he wanted it to be the "biggest call to arms" for a generation.

Tonight, David Grossman will be assessing the plans, what change they offer and how radical they are.

And Michael Crick is in West Yorkshire, gauging reaction and asking whether people are likely to heed Mr Cameron's clarion call.

A key pledge is helping people to set up their own schools - we will be talking to shadow education secretary Michael Gove.

And we have the next instalment of Motorway Man in which we see Newsnight correspondent Stephen Smith "embedded" in Donington Park - a motorway service station and key election battleground.

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

Tonight, we don our sunspecs to look at the Labour manifesto - the cover looks like a 50s ad for Sunlight soap, and it promises that the future will be bright only with a Labour government, but when we scrutinise it - will it wash?

Peter Mandelson said today to Michael Crick, it offers "Blair plus". Is that something the voters will buy?

Michael Crick examines the promises on VAT and public serivce reform, while Paul Mason asks whether the policies all add up?

Then we'll be interviewing the man who wrote it all, Ed Miliband.

David Grossman will be giving us a heads up on tomorrow's Conservative manifesto, and reviewing David Cameron's interview - to be broadcast on ITV tonight - in which, we already know, he says he thought about giving up politics after the death of his son.

We'll bring you the highlights of Jeremy's encounter with Nick Clegg this evening - to be broadcast in full on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One at 8.30pm - the first of his interviews with the main party leaders.

And after the terrible accident which killed the Polish President and 95 others, the Polish foreign minister talks about the impact of his death and the repercussions on Polish Russian relations.

ENTRY FROM 1122GMT

Labour is preparing to unveil its manifesto, pledging more public service reform and not to raise income tax, as it bids for a fourth term in office.

Michael Crick is travelling up to Birmingham on the same train as most of the Cabinet to attend the manifesto launch and will be visiting a West Midlands marginal later to get public reaction to it.

Paul Mason will be analysing the economic measures outlined in the manifesto to see if they add up.

And in the first of our leader interviews, Jeremy will be speaking to Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats.

More details later.

Here's Kirsty with more of what's coming up:

We're working on a lead story for tonight - so until the programme my lips are sealed on that one. But we're hoping it will be a humdinger.

We also have one of our election campaign delights, Friday Night at the Marginals.

Over the next few weeks, our political Editor Michael Crick will be prowling around some of the most hotly contested constituencies in the UK.

Tonight he's in Luton South where the Labour MP Margaret Moran is standing down after a bruising encounter with the party's NEC over her parliamentary expenses.

Michael will be teaming up with Emily Maitlis who'll be at an arts centre in the town with 80s crooner and local boy Paul Young, Sarfraz Mansoor, who is similarly attached to Luton (though not by his vocal chords) and others to find out what they make of the first week of the campaign and examining the big issues for the town.

Join us at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

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

With the election result so uncertain, and talk of a hung parliament still in the air, David Grossman reports tonight on tactical voting.

Plus it is the first of our "Friday Night in the Marginals" broadcast from a marginal seat - Emily Maitlis and Michael Crick are the lucky duo being despatched to Luton.

They will be looking at what is happening there and back across the events of the week - joined by a panel including journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and 80s crooner Paul Young.

More details later.

Here are some more details on what is planned for this evening's programme:
Labour have attempted to fight-back in the row over National Insurance today with a claim that Conservative plans have been drawn up on the "back of an envelope" and would endanger the recovery.

Meanwhile, 13 more business leaders have backed the Tory proposal to scrap NICs.

Central to the Conservative case is that this tax rise can be avoided by efficiency savings in government.

Tonight we examine how credible the claims are from all parties that they can make billions of pounds in savings through "efficiencies?.

Paul Mason will analyse the claims and counter claims, and David Grossman will assess the political impact from Plymouth. Plus we will be joined by senior politicians and business people.

Also tonight, Justin Rowlatt will be investigating how it can be that all of the main political parties say the NHS is safe with them, but also say they can make substantial efficiency savings there too.

How can this be done without compromising patient care?

We will be joined by Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, his conservative shadow Andrew Lansley, and Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Norman Lamb.

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

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From earlier today:

Credibility is the focus tonight as we ask which of the parties have it and which don't - particularly over the paramount issue of the economy.

Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling have dubbed Tory plans "not credible" and drawn up on the "back of an envelope".

The Tories have been boosted by more business leaders publicly supporting their promise to curb Labour's planned National Insurance rise - something they say is a "tax on jobs" that would "kill the recovery".

So who do we believe?

David Grossman will be drilling down into who the electorate trust, Paul Mason will be crunching the numbers, and in the studio we hope to be talking to senior politicians and business leaders.

Plus we have Justin Rowlatt's latest Pop-Up Politics - in which .

Justin is looking at another trust issue - the NHS. All of the main political parties say the NHS is safe with them, but all of them also want to make substantial efficiency savings. How can this be done without compromising patient care?

More details later.

SOME MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

The great wash up clean up is underway with the leaders of all three main parties using day two of the campaign to outline how they would reform a scandal-hit parliament.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would overhaul the system, introducing fixed term parliament and promising to hold a referendum on changing how MPs are elected and a replacement chamber for the House of Lords.

Conservative leader David Cameron said his party would go further in giving voters the right to kick out MPs who break the rules.

And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg's proposals include a cap on political donations.

But for the electorate is such talk a case of too little too late?

How can the politicians build up public trust while at the same time tussling for votes, and will the proposals really take the heat out of public anger over the expenses scandal?

Tonight in the studio we bring together three senior politicians and three members of the public, who feel ignored by politicians and not served by the system, for a live debate.

We will also examine the apparent rift between Afghanistan's government and the West.

Today President Hamid Karzai's spokesman was forced to give assurances that Afghanistan is committed to the fight against the Taliban, denying published reports that the Afghan leader threatened to join the Taliban
unless the US and its allies ease up on pressure to reform.

Mark Urban takes a look at the rising tensions and we will be talking to the US state department.

And, move over Alan Partridge - we have the first film from our very own Motorway Man, Stephen Smith, as he moves into the Donington Park services on the M1 - a surprising election battleground.

ENTRY FROM 11.29

Seconds away, round two.

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are preparing for their final face-to-face House of Commons clash ahead of the 6 May general election - and we will be watching.

We are also keeping an eye on the "wash-up" - the period of horse-trading over which outstanding legislation will become law before the election.

As campaigning focuses on plans for political reform we look at voter disengagement. Is change to the voting system what is needed to reinvigorate the electorate?

And, move over Alan Partridge - we have the first film from our very own Motorway Man, Stephen Smith, as he moves into the Donington Park services on the M1. All will become clear later...

Plus, as the head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) and his deputy resign, we will examine the apparent rift between Afghanistan's leaders and the West.

More details later.

The plan hasn't changed much but here are a few more details:

As the starting gun is fired on the 2010 general election race we take a close look at the runners and riders.

Who is fancied to go the distance, who to fall at the first hurdle? Has anyone nosed out in front on this first official day of campaigning?

Michael Crick has been in Rochester and Gillingham in Kent where Gordon Brown was meeting voters, and David Grossman has been following David Cameron from London to Leeds where the Conservative leader will end his day with a rally.

Jeremy Paxman will be joined in the studio by senior politicians from the three main parties and the Newsnight political panel - Danny Finkelstein, Peter Hyman and Olly Grender.

Emily Maitlis will be giving us an exclusive first look at her election night graphics - explaining where the key battlegrounds are, and what each of the parties would need to achieve in order to win.

And there will be a rundown of all of the exciting events and features Newsnight has in store for you throughout this campaign - surely worth a look at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.
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FROM EARLIER TODAY:

And they're off!

Gordon Brown has made his much-anticipated journey from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace to trigger a 6 May general election.

Our Political editor Michael Crick will be following the prime minister throughout the day and travelling with him to Kent where he is expected to meet disenchanted and disconnected voters in the marginals.

David Cameron has just made a speech in Central London at the Conservatives' campaign launch, watched closely by our Political correspondent David Grossman who will also be following Mr Cameron to Leeds later where he is addressing a rally early this evening.

We'll be joined in the studio by politicians from the three main parties to debate all of the day's events, and by our political panel of Danny Finkelstein, Olly Grender and Peter Hyman.

And Emily Maitlis steps into the illustrious shoes of Peter Snow and Jeremy Vine to give us a first look at the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s 2010 election graphics.

Emily will be explaining where the key battlegrounds are, and what each of the parties would need to achieve in order to win. Will we have a Swingometer in 2010?

More details later.

UPDATE: MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Bosses of some of the UK's biggest firms have backed Conservative plans to axe part of Labour's planned National Insurance rise if they win power. The 23 businessmen include bosses from Marks and Spencer and Next.

David Cameron has called it a "significant" moment in the election campaign, but Labour has hit back calling the Conservative plans an "unfunded promise".

Justin Rowlatt investigates just how significant today's intervention is and asks whether letters like this from high profile businessmen give a party more credibility with the voters. We'll be joined live in the studio by prominent businesspeople.

The battle is on for the Labour selection in Stoke-on-Trent Central. Tonight the candidate will be chosen and our political editor Michael Crick will be reporting live from Stoke.

No women or local candidates have made the final shortlist. The historian, author and broadcaster Tristram Hunt is the favourite, but other prospective candidates are Oxford Councillor Sajjad-Hussain Malik and journalist Joe Ukemenam.

Also tonight - we'll have a report on how the families of some murder victims are upset that the BNP is using their cases as part of its campaign. We hope to be joined live by a representative of the BNP.

Plus we look at the growing drugs problem in Russia which now has around 2.5 million heroin addicts. Rupert Wingfield Hayes investigates what has been called the recent "tsunami" sweeping over the country in terms of the rise in heroin addiction.

Newsnight will be off air on Friday and Monday, but will return on Tuesday of next week.

ENTRY FROM 1128 BST

In a letter to the Telegraph, 23 business leaders have voiced support for Conservative plans to scrap part of a planned National Insurance rise if they win power. David Cameron has said that the businessmen's intervention was an important moment in the election campaign. But just how significant is today's intervention? Justin Rowlatt investigates.

The Labour Party in Stoke-on-Trent Central is meeting tonight to choose its candidate for the General Election. The author and broadcaster Tristram Hunt is the favourite. Other candidates include Oxford councillor Sajjad-Hussain Malik and journalist Joe Ukemenam. Michael Crick has the latest.

The BNP has upset the families of some murder victims by using their cases and photos as part of their campaign without consent. Journalist Michelle Gribbon will be bringing us more on that tonight.

Plus Rupert Wingfield Hayes discusses the stark increase in heroin addiction in Russia.