Steerpike

Two of the biggest media circuses are set to collide. The 2013 press storm that greeted the arrival of Prince George looks likely to return when the Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to her second child. Today Catherine revealed that the baby is due next month. 'I'm due in mid-April, to the end of April,' the young royal told a crowd of wellwishers. This is of course right in the middle of the general election campaign. With broadcasters and newspapers spread out over the country covering an already testing five party election, Mr S suspects political coverage will grind to a halt for at least 24 hours as all media eyes turn once again to the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

Sarah Vine criticised Ed Miliband in the Daily Mail after the Labour leader posed with his wife Justine in a bare kitchen for a BBC interview. Although the 'forlorn little kitchen' turned out to just be his 'kitchenette' rather than his main kitchen, Miliband has gone on to insist that it is one he uses. It's a different story, however, for his rival David Cameron who has taken the opportunity to show off his own shiny kitchen in a video for the Sun's new election website. The short film, which documents a day in the life of the Prime Minister, shows Cameron chillaxing in the well-stocked kitchen which is crammed with food, equipment and recipe books.

The Green Party's fundraising ball was set to be an event to rival the Tory Black and White ball. Tickets to the lavish bash, which included a champagne reception, started at £500 with tables going for up to £15,000. However, after news of the planned fundraiser broke on Friday, party members complained that the the ball was at odds with the Green party's policy to redistribute wealth. Now, Mr S hears that the event has been cancelled as a result of the public backlash. 'After feedback from our membership, supporters and donors, the Green Party Executive decided not proceed with this event,' a party spokesman tells Steerpike. Green donors now have the chance to attend a more inclusive event.

Politicians are always trying to appear normal, sincere and authentic. It’s not just Ed Miliband trying to decide which kitchen to pose in: every MP is always trying to craft an image of themselves as a man or woman of the people through carefully-posed Twitter photos. Mr Steerpike particularly enjoys shots of MPs enjoying themselves in their constituencies while buttering up a local business, and has a little black book of the best examples. Here are three very good ones: Getting Ready for Christmas today in Dover. Parking is free in Dover & Deal until 26th Dec thanks to @DoverDC pic.twitter.

Yesterday Mr S reported that Ed Miliband posed in his second kitchen for a BBC interview with his wife Justine, rather than his larger main kitchen. Now the Labour leader has come out in defence of his two kitchens, claiming that the smaller 'kitchenette' is his main kitchen. Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Miliband says that he does have two kitchens but denies that he posed in the smaller one to give the impression that he was a man of the people. 'I think Justine would probably say she wishes I’d spend more time in the kitchen. The house we bought had a kitchen downstairs when we bought it. And it is not the one we use. We use the small one upstairs.

‘Labour has vowed not to feature Prime Minister David Cameron on billboards ahead of the general election,' reported the BBC last month. ‘The party said it would focus on issues rather than personalities. and not use negative personal campaigning.’ It seems that has not stretched to the party’s email campaigning though. Steerpike’s inbox has been inundated with fundraising emails from all of the parties, but a particularly naff example is doing the rounds today. Labour appear to have enlisted the help of people with identical names to Tory leaders to send out emails. Such as: I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon here! I'm a Labour Party member of 25 years' standing.