Steerpike

After the Bow Group chairman Ben Harris-Quinney urged Tories to vote for Ukip in seats where the party can’t win, the Conservative think tank's patrons issued a statement distancing themselves from the comments. Then when Harris-Quinney appeared on the Daily Politics yesterday to discuss the incident he was accused of being a 'Walter Mitty' character who had lied about his titles. Doubt was cast on his claim that he is the President of Conservatives Abroad Madrid, after the association told the BBC that he held no such title having failed to renew his membership.

Mr S reported earlier on Lucy Powell's blunder after she unwittingly seemed to contradict the message of the EdStone: ‘I don’t think anyone is suggesting that the fact that he’s carved them in stone means he’s absolutely not going to break them or anything like that.’ Miliband has now come to the defence of his beloved monument. During an interview with the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale, he was asked whether Powell, the vice-chair of Labour's general election campaign, had got the wrong take-away message from his 8ft 6 sculpture. To this, Miliband replied, 'Well, I'm clear about it, yes.' At least somebody is clear.

Given that the Bow Group are the oldest Conservative think tank and count Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and Peter Lilley among their former chairmen, it's safe to presume that the Tories would have thought that they could rely on their endorsement for the election. However, the Telegraph reported earlier today that the think tank, led by its colourful chairman Ben Harris-Quinney, have urged Conservatives to vote for Ukip in seats where the Tories can't win. In fact Harris-Quinney appeared to go one step further by urging voters to opt for Ukip's Mark Reckless in Rochester and Stroud. This is bizarre given that the Tories are hoping to win this seat back in the election.

With polling day less than a week away, it was a case of no rest for the wicked this weekend as politicians took part in some last minute campaigning. While Ed Miliband dreamt about erecting an 8ft 6in stone in Number 10, other members of the Labour party attended a campaign event. Organised by councillor Ansar Ali Khan, Labour members including Tom Watson, Liam Byrne and Jack Dromey joined supporters in Birmingham for a rally: https://twitter.com/JackDromeyMP/status/594177392979083264 However, at the event women in the audience were segregated from men. This issue did not go unnoticed by the party's critics, with many taking to Twitter to ask why Labour, which claims to be a party for equality, would support segregated audiences.

This morning the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby girl. The girl, who is the Queen’s fifth great-grandchild, is the fourth in line to the throne. As members of the public began to celebrate, the political leaders were quick to put out their own carefully worded messages of congratulations. With the election less than a week away, each leader must work out how to toe the party line on the monarchy, while not coming across as cold-hearted or too politically-minded. First out of the starting blocks was Nick Clegg who managed to mention both his constituency and his better half Miriam in his messages: https://twitter.com/nick_clegg/status/594444543220654080 https://twitter.

Tony Blair once counted Noel Gallagher as one of New Labour's key celebrity backers. However, under Ed Miliband's leadership, Labour can rely on no such support from the musician. In an interview on Alan Carr's Chatty Man, which airs tonight, the former Oasis member said he was unable to endorse any politician out of the current line-up: 'I'm not sure I can get behind any of them at the minute. I dunno. The fact that Cameron didn't turn up for the debate is a disgrace. I think that Miliband, if he gets in, is just going to fail us.' And why would Miliband fail? 'Because he is a f**king communist.' Mr S suspects it's time for Blair to show off his highly prized diplomatic skills and have a word. That's if Labour can afford his services.