West Country (E) Politics

The Labour Party will today promise to end the controversial badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire if it wins the General Election.

It's one of six commitments to protect animals being announced on the tenth anniversary of the ban on fox hunting coming into force.

With the countdown on to polling day, Ian Axton explores the issues that matter to voters. His guests are David Heath, the Lib Dem MP for Somerton and Frome who is standing down at this election, Sophy Gardner, Labour's candidate for Gloucester and a former RAF Wing Commander and Steve Double, standing in St Austell and Newquay for the Tories.

We also have an exclusive interview with Owen Paterson, who recollects what it was like to be Environment Secretary at the time of the region's devastating floods and storm damage, exactly one year ago.

The government minister in charge of the response to last winter's flooding crisis says it's nonsense to accuse him of not wanting to dredge two rivers on the Somerset Levels.

Owen Paterson has told ITV News he always supported the idea as part of a wider plan - but admits he should have explained things better.

Our presenter Kylie Pentelow has been traveling around the West asking you to record your very own Election Selfies.

You've been sending in your questions and comments for the country's leaders in the run up to the election.

Now we've put your questions to the Labour Leader Ed Miliband.

Have a look at how he got on below, and if you want to record an Election Selfie of your own please send the short video to itvwestcountryelection@itv.com.

It's been reported that a woman from Cheltenham sentenced to death in Bali for drug smuggling has written a letter to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond asking for funding for an appeal.

57 year old Lindsay Sandiford says she could be executed in the next few weeks. She was found with £1.6million worth of cocaine in Bali in 2012. The Foreign Office say they cannot comment on individual cases, but have previously said they would be "ready to provide support at this difficult time, if requested".

A school in Bristol has apologised for listing UKIP as a racist organisation in a lesson.

The party was featured on a slide of far-right groups for a discussion about tolerance. Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe says it was a mistake and has taken steps to ensure it won't happen again.

The school says it has apologised to UKIP which has thanked it for its "prompt and appropriate response".

Ian Liddell Grainger, Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, is facing calls from his own party go.

West Somerset Council's Conservatives group passed a vote of no confidence on the MP - this means he could be deselected as a candidate in the general election.

The MP has a chequered past admitting to previously erasing a photo of a councillor who he was 'narked' with, as well as making offensive remarks about the West Somerset Council and its members.

The MP has declined to comment.

The MP for Wells has quit her job as parliamentary aide to Business Secretary Vince Cable after voting against the Government on fracking.

Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt had said she intended to stay on, despite backing calls to suspend the controversial technique but a spokesperson for the Cabinet minister says her resignation has been accepted.

Ms Munt said she had restated her opposition to fracking, adding: "I am unwilling to compromise and cannot change my opposition to fracking.

"I will continue to campaign vocally against fracking and as result it is clear that my views cannot be reconciled with the Government on this matter.

"I will continue to defend and represent this beautiful part of Somerset, its residents, businesses with all the enthusiasm and energy that I have had since May 2010 when I became the Member.

"My campaign to stop fracking in Somerset continues."

The MP for Wells has quit her job as parliamentary aide to Business Secretary Vince Cable after voting against the Government on fracking.

Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt had said she intended to stay on, despite backing calls to suspend the controversial technique but a spokesperson for the Cabinet minister says her resignation has been accepted.