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The second debate – 8 in the morning, April 22nd

8am

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* In a comment that has been interpreted as a further overture to the Lib Dems, Gordon Brown has said “I’m only here because I want to make a difference. If I cannot make a difference, I go.”

* Sky’s Adam Boulton, tonight’s host, says he is ready to push the rules to the limit to guarantee an interesting debate.

* Nick Clegg says he has been “too busy to prepare” for tonight’s debate.

* Ahead of the debates, Clegg has been forced to deny any wrongdoing over allegations that Lib Dem donors paid money directly into his private bank account.

* The likelihood of a split vote in Croydon Central has forced David Cameron to write to all electors there: Dave Hill investigates.

* David Cameron has been urged to sack a Tory frontbencher who said lowering the gay age of consent to 16 puts teenage boys at “serious physical risk” and in danger of catching HIV.

* The Lib Dems would insist on “truly proportional representation” if the they were to consider working with Labour in a hung parliament, reports the Independent.

* Cleggmania? Not in the Tory-Labour marginal of Stourbridge, reports John Harris.

Alex is the founder and CEO of The Cares Family. He was editor and first director of LabourList in 2009-2010, during which time he established the site as the number one Labour blog, and later an aide to Ed Miliband.

View all articles by Alex Smith
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