They all agree:

• To more mutuals and cooperatives and to employees and citizens running public services - why is it you wait 20 years for political support and then, like a London bus, three come along at once?
• Restoring the link between the basic state pension and average earnings - is it cynical to suggest it's not coincidental that this coincides with recession and tightening of public sector pay?
• Cleaning up Westminster and giving people the power to recall their MP when they misbehave
• Supporting the Green Economy to deliver new jobs
• Getting banks lending again and not being so naughty in the future

Who'd be against?

All the parties are in favour of; greater efficiency, more democratic and accountable public services, fairer society, less bureaucracy and citizens having a greater say over decision making. Well there's a surprise! Who would be in favour of more bureaucracy and less efficiency?

Eye catchers?

• The Conservatives big idea is the Big Society and a neighbourhood army of community organisers.
• The Liberal Democrats are going with radical plans to reform the tax system and make it fairer
• Labour's plans for the Post Office include a national network of credit unions and community lenders funded by taxing the banks

They said what?

‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant' (Conservative)

There will be more Mandarin teachers in schools (Labour)

‘Following the election of a Liberal Democrat government...'

Finally...

Being one of the few people sad enough to have read all three manifestos from cover to cover, I can now say; there's not a lot in there we didn't know already.

There's also a lot of repetition. There's also a lot of repetition...

Given that very few people actually read these things, couldn't they have cut them down a bit and saved the environment that they are all so committed to protecting?