Politics

Nigel Farage has hinted there is still a chance that another Conservative MP could defect to Ukip before the General Election.

Asked in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph (£) whether he was in discussions with any Tory MPs, Farage said: "The last time I spoke about this I said I would be surprised if there were not more.

"There is one conversation we are still having. But do you know what - it is not very relevant now. Last year it was a big deal."

Unlike Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless - who both triggered and won by-elections - a Tory jumping ship now would be likely to hold on to their seat until the General Election in May.

Welsh Conservative Leader, Andrew RT Davies says all public sector workers in Wales should earn the 'living wage'.

Speaking at his party conference in Cardiff, Mr Davies said they will seek to make the change by 2021 if the Conservatives win next year's Assembly election.

Around one in four Welsh workers earn less than the living wage.

Douglas Carswell is expected to urge Ukip activists to break the "Tory-Labour power cartel" in May's General Election.

The Conservative defector, who triggered and won a by-election in his Clacton-on-Sea seat, will set out his blueprint for political reform and reconnecting with voters at the Ukip spring conference later today.

Mr Carswell is the highest-profile speaker on the second day of the Ukip conference at the Winter Gardens in Margate, Kent.

ITV poll: 'Nasty' Ukip still most trusted on immigration

Britain's sewerage system is struggling to cope with the influx of migrants, a senior Ukip figure has warned.

Immigration spokesman Steven Woolfe raised the issue as he listed elements of infrastructure that were under pressure because of immigration during his speech to the party's pre-election conference.

Mr Woolfe insisted the public did not care about "colour of skin or race or creed".

He added: "What they are concerned about is that our eye has been taken off the ball for nearly a generation," he told the audience in Margate.

"Schools are now full, hospitals are troubled, healthcare - it is very difficult to be seen in many areas of this country.

"Roads need to be built, we need to look at the way we feed ourselves because of our growing population.

"What about our water and sewage systems? All of these matter."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage claimed the party is on its way to winning the Conservative seat of Thanet South as polls showed him holding a wide margin over his opponents.

Mr Farage also accused Labour and the Conservatives of indulging in negative campaigning and insisted his party would focus "on the politics of hope and inspiration".

He added that immigration was the topic dominating the election and Ukip was the only party which could regain control of Britain's borders.

Mr Farage was addressing the party's Spring conference in Margate.

Ed Miliband has said a £3,000 cut to university tuition fees would come into force in September 2016 if Labour are elected.

He told supporters it would will benefit not only those starting degree courses next year, but "those already at university" and slash an average of around £9,000 off each student's debt.

Mr Miliband also said that maintenance grants will be raised by £400 a year, and that Labour is "determined" to help students with their living costs.