News in Picture

Gordon Brown has emotionally insisted that he never meant to offend the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan when he wrote her a condolence letter in which she says her son's name was misspelled.

The latest twist in the controversy is that The Sun has released a recording of a phone conversation between Mrs Janes and the prime minister in which he blames his poor handwriting for any confusion.

Tonight, David Grossman will be asking if this slip is indicative of a government in chaos and what it reveals about attitudes in Downing Street.

Also this evening David Cameron will be outlining Conservative plans for tackling poverty and inequality, which include allowing people to keep more benefits when they find work.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason will be comparing Labour and Conservative policies on an issue which is expected to be one of the deciding factors in the next election.

Plus tonight we have the first of three special episodes of Politics Pen in which you - the audience - are put centre stage.

Hundreds of you sent in ideas about how to ease the strain on the public finances and tonight three people get to slug it out with our political animals.

Tune in at 10.30pm to find out how they fare.