Welcome to the PM programme's special election section.

Friday 8 June

Boris Johnson: Surprised by Mr Hague's announcement

Fridays guests were the former Conservative minister Gillian Shepherd and the Guardian's Boris Johnson - also a Conservative candidate. They speak to PM about their reaction to the election results.

 Click here to listen to Conservative Boris Johnson

 Click here to listen to Conservative minister Gillian Shepherd

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Tuesday 5 June

Tory Donor Stuart Wheeler gave millions to Tories

One person with more reason than most to keep a careful eye on the Conservative election campaign is Stuart Wheeler, the Chief Executive of the spread betting company IG Index.

In January it was announced he had given £5 million to the Tories, and he followed recently with another donation of undisclosed size.

PM asked him for his assessment of the Tory election campaign.

 Conservative donor Stuart Wheeler tells PM he's glad he gave the money

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Monday 4 June

With just three days left to the election concerns are being voiced that a huge increase in postal votes could lead to electoral fraud.

 Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, Ken Ritchie:

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Saturday 2 June

Is Hague changing tactics?

The focus on Europe which dominated last week's election campaigning was totally absent from the Conservative campaign today.

Instead, they unveiled posters on public services.

A change of tactic? Norman Smith reports on the day's campaining.

 Norman Smith reports on Saturday's campaigning

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Friday 1 June

Thatcher idolatry: Would she approve?

In a strange game of election topsy-turvey, the Conservatives have been talking up Labour's chances while Labour have been playing their own.

And a former party leader thinks there could be a big Labour majority - Lady Thatcher.

Lady Thatcher, writing in The Daily Telegraph, said that a second Labour landslide would lead to an "elective dictatorship" of a government sustained by "cronies, ciphers and a personality cult".

Tony Blair was quick to rebut this arguing the election had still to be won by Labour and underlining voting takes place next week.

Liberal leader Charles Kennedy accused the Tories of backing those who say they will not bother to vote.

 Norman Smith reports from Westminster on the landslide warnings and rebuttals

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Thursday 31st May 2001

Get them when they're young

One of the few issues the parties agree on in this election campaign is the need to attract disillusioned young voters.

On Thursday Tony Blair struggled to answer a question about the teenage soap, Hollyoaks, while William Hague fared better, confidently answering questions on pop music and Harry Potter books for BBC television's Newsround.

No TV appearances for Charles Kennedy but the LibDem leader did admit that the world of modern politics seemed out of step with the concerns of the younger generation.

 Norman Smith reports on the politicians' attempts to court the youth vote

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Wednesday 30th May 2001

Are the parties failing Asian voters?

In Birmingham, Asian voters who have voted Labour in the past are disappointed with the party's attitude to ethnic minorities.

So they have set up their own political parties, which are standing in the general election.

Andrew Bomford went to meet them for PM.

 Click here to listen to Andrew Bomford's report

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Tuesday 29th May 2001

William Hague: Under fire

As Labour launch a controversial poster attacking William Hague, a senior Tory member criticises the party's Euro-policy.

Leon now Lord Brittan, who was Trade and Industry minister under Margaret Thatcher, says Mr Hague's plans to renegotiate the Treaty of Nice are unrealistic.

 "I hope the 'Yes' vote will win it"

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Monday 28th May 2001

Labour's Brian Wilson: Referendum is not issue yet

The Conservatives have attacked Labour's position on the Euro again today, claiming the question in a referendum would be rigged and that entry would cost £36bn.

But Labour says there is no point in discussing the question yet and the Tories are assuming they will lose the election by making it an issue now.

 Brian Wilson denies the wording of a referendum can be decided now

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Friday 25th May 2001

Tony Blair: "Europe is a unique opportunity for influence and leadership on the world stage"

As Labour leader Tony Blair makes an impassioned plea for "patriotic" Britons to play a full part in Europe, we look at how eurosceptic the British really are.

Gillian Hargreaves has been to Harwich to assess the apprehensions felt by many towards the EU.

 Gillian Hargreaves reports

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Thursday 24th May 2001

Where are the pro-Euro Tories?

Yesterday all eyes and ears were focused on Lady Thatcher's headline grabbing intervention and her "never, ever" vow on the euro. Since then, the Tories have been battling hard to present a united front on the official policy - and move on to other issues.

But there's been a deafening silence on the single currency row from the Euro-philes in the Conservative party. Where are they now? Norman Smith has been investigating for PM.

 Norman Smith reports on the Euro-phile Conservatives

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Wednesday 23rd May 2001

Mrs Thatcher sets the euro ball rolling

Both the main parties delivered charge and counter-charge over Europe today.

The Tories claimed that Labour would back a secret plan for EU tax harmonisation - inevitably leading to higher taxes - while Labour published a list of eighty Conservative candidates who, they claimed, had ruled out the single currency on principle.

The Liberal Democrats accused William Hague of ditching political principle in refusing to echo Lady Thatcher's refusal to ever enter into the single currency.

 Europe enters the campaign fray

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Monday 21st May 2001

Which party best represents business?

As part of their drive to keep the focus of the election campaign on the economy, the Tories today launched their business manifesto.

They've promised to cut business rates for small firms by £200m a year.

Andrew North went to Reading to find out more.

 What do businesses think of the political parties?

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Saturday 19 May 2001

All parties say they want to woo the "grey vote"

Tony Blair was treated with respect and kindness in Cardiff today - by pensioners who had apparently forgiven his government for giving them just 75p a week increase not long ago.

Even more surprisingly, opinion polls suggest Labour has 50% support amongst over-65s - a huge leap from the situation in 1997, when they were 10 points behind the Tories.

 Nick Jones reports on the day's campaigning

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Thursday 17 May 2001

Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, punching a member of public

In the light of John Prescott's fracas and the Prime Minister's encounter with Sharron Storer, PM asks, is confrontation the only way of engaging with politics?

We spoke to Hugh Berger of the National Forum Trust and Jim Bradley who is a political activist who's never voted.

DAY NINE:
 Apathy or antipathy?

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Wednesday 16th May 2001

Sharron Storer confronts Tony Blair

The woman who heckled Tony Blair says he needs to see what conditions are really like in hospitals and give the NHS more money.

Sharon Storer, whose partner Keith is seriously ill with cancer, told PM why she confronted the prime minister.

DAY EIGHT:
 A voter tells Mr Blair to fund the NHS properly

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Tuesday 15th May 2001

The Lib Dems say they are guided by 'freedom, justice and honesty'

After only a week on the election trail a row has erupted over negative campaigning.

Also today - the Lib Dems launch their manifesto.

DAY SEVEN:
 Eddie Mair guages opinion on the Lib Dem manifesto
 Political Correspondent Norman Smith reports on the Tory election ad

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Monday 14th May 2001

Not just one term

Martin Bell, who won Tatton from Neil Hamilton in 1997, has announced he will be standing in Brentwood and Ongar in Essex. He told PM why he was standing.

DAY SIX:
 Martin Bell: "A lot of people in this constituency asked me to stand"

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Saturday 12th May 2001

Sir Peter Tapsell MP

As Labour releases a list of 71 Conservative candidates that they claim reject the party's official line on the EU, Sir Peter Tapsell re-ignites Euro-divisions by saying Germany's proposals EU reform are akin to Hitler's.

DAY FOUR:
 Hague denies party split euro as frontbencher vows never to back single currency

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Friday 11th May 2001

Saving hospitals

Labour was challenged to come clean on its future tax and spending policies.

For one constituency, its spending on health - in particular a hospital casualty department - that will matter.

DAY THREE:
 Campaigners have made saving a local hospital their key election issue.

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Thursday 10th May 2001

William and Ffion ready for battle

The Conservative Party's manifesto has passed that "common sense test", according to Anne Widdecome.

Hear her interview with PM's Clare English.

DAY TWO:
 Anne Widdecombe says the Conservatives can win the election

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Wednesday 9th May 2001

As the long-awaited election campaign finally gets underway William Hague, Tony Blair and Charles Kennedy clash during Prime Minister's Questions.

It will be the only time the three leaders debate head-to-head during the campaign.

DAY ONE:
 Shaun Ley reports on the one of the most memorable PMQs in recent years

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Tuesday 8th May 2001

The Prime Minister today asked the Queen to dissolve Parliament to clear the way for a general election on 7th May. PM's political correspondent Norman Smith reported on the day's events.

DAY ZERO:
 Norman Smith reports

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PM is BBC Radio 4's evening look at the day's news and events, with a team of presenters including Eddie Mair, Clare English, Carolyn Quinn, Nigel Wrench and Dan Damon.