DMcG - Corporation Tax seems to be Labour's answer to every question related to costs. That and tax those earning £80,000 more (Valid point made on last night's "Question Time" by a member of the audience in Edinburgh - That will not cover it by a long shot, to raise what is required she pointed out that the line for more stringent taxes has to be set much lower at around the £30,000 per year mark - The lady was right, ask Francois Hollande how effective his swingeing tax hikes were in remedying France's problems) I watched Question Time as well. My point applies there as well as here. It is only a few days until we have the statements how things will be paid for. Once we have that written down and cross referenced we will be able to check for ourselves what is paying for what. Until then it is idle speculation. (And yes, I know the Labour rep had been at the meeting authorising the manifesto.) But actually, I dont set that much store by the details in any parties manifesto. Partly because we know "Events, dear boy" can change all the promises. So the tone and vision is at least as important as the detail. It is also because politicians insist people voted for the entire manifesto commitments whereas in practise any individual vote only partially supports the manifesto. The dilemma was well illustrated on question time by the woman who agreed with almost all Labour's manifesto but wanted independence for Scotland. She feared a vote for Labour would be treated as a vote against independence. SNP would answer her independence wishes, but not the rest. It is the same for all of us, more or less. A 100% support of your preferred party's stance is rare.

It is also important to see virtually every commentator has agreed that for the first time for many years voters are being offered very distinct views. That is how a democracy should be, whichever side you are inclined towards.