±«Óãtv

More detail on tonight's Newsnight with Gavin Esler...

Tonight we'll have the latest on the operation to block the flow of oil leaking from a damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico. US President Barack Obama will soon visit the Louisiana coast to view first-hand the damage that has been wrought.

Our Science editor Susan Watts has been speaking to marine engineers, oceanographers and environmentalists to assess whether the operation to stem the flow of oil is really working, if industry regulations need to be tightened up, and what the environmental impact might be.

And Gavin will be joined by guests who'll debate the political fallout from this disaster.

Mr Obama has defended his government's handling of the incident and vowed to hold BP accountable, but a recent opinion poll shows 60% of Americans are unhappy with his government's response.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason will be examining the state the global economy is in and we'll be joined live in the studio by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan.

Do join Gavin for all that and more at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two.

And don't forget that after tonight's show we'll not be back on your screens till Tuesday 1 June 2010 because of the bank holiday.

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From earlier today:

BP has resumed pumping mud into the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico after briefly suspending the high-risk procedure.

The oil giant said it was too early to say whether the latest attempt to stem the leak had been successful.

BP said that its response costs to the huge oil spill had risen to about $930m (£640m).

US President Barack Obama - who is to visit the affected area in Louisiana - has defended his government's handling of the disaster and vowed to hold BP accountable.

But a recent opinion poll shows 60% of Americans are unhappy with the government's response.

Our Science editor Susan Watts will be asking if the operation to stem the flow of oil really is working, and industry regulations need to be tightened up.

And what will the political fallout of what could be the biggest environmental disaster in history?

More details later.

MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

The government has unveiled plans to radically overhaul the welfare system.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who has overseen the proposals, said sanctions will be used against benefit claimants who refuse to take up jobs, while all those on incapacity benefit will now be reassessed.

Speaking of the current set up, Mr Duncan Smith said: "A system that was originally designed to support the poorest in society is now trapping them in the very condition it was supposed to alleviate."

But are the changes outlined today the best way to fix things?

Tonight, a group of benefits recipients will be joining us in the studio to give us their thoughts on the issue and to challenge Liberal Democrat Minister, Steve Webb, on the plan.

And Peter Marshall has been in Coventry to look at what the impact on the ground might be.

Plus, a 40-year-old man has been charged with the murders of three Bradford women.

Stephen Griffiths is accused of murdering Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, who were all sex workers in the city.

Liz MacKean is in Bradford and will bring us the latest on a case and we will be discussing how to better protect sex workers.

Plus, we have a report from Mark Urban, who is in East Jerusalem, asking whether a freeze on settlements can bring progress to the stalled peace process.

We'll be talking to the US State Department.

ENTRY FROM 1126BST

Police have confirmed that human remains found in a river in West Yorkshire are those of missing Bradford woman Suzanne Blamires.

Detectives are continuing to question a man on suspicion of murdering her and two other local sex workers, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth.

The deaths in Bradford bring back grim memories of the Yorkshire Ripper 35 years ago and remind us how precarious the lives of prostitutes still are.

Liz MacKean has been sent to Bradford to bring us the latest tonight.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is to lay out his plans for what he calls a "root and branch reform" of Britain's welfare system today.

Peter Marshall has been sent to Coventry - in the literal sense only - to look at what the impact of his plans might be.

And we have a report from Mark Urban, who is in East Jerusalem, taking the temperature of the peace process and looking at the thorny issue of Israeli settlement building.

More details later.

More details on tonight's Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman:

Tonight we have a report from inside Pul-e-Charkhi, Afghanistan's most notorious prison.
In the Soviet era it was notorious for forced disappearances and executions, and for the past three decades it has been the place where the Afghan state has sent its enemies.

At this moment there are many Taliban behind the heavily fortified gates, along with convicted murderers and drug traffickers.

Lyse Doucet was given access to The Zone - the maximum security area in which Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners are held, where, like The Maze in Northern Ireland at the height of The Troubles, prisoners who say they are political prisoners not criminals are largely left to run their own affairs and remain wedded to their cause.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason will be reporting on the potential of a second banking crisis occurring despite the billions of pounds of taxpayers' money already spent to keep them afloat. In the studio we will be hearing the expert view of top economists and bankers.

We will have the latest on the arrest of a man on suspicion of murdering three women who were sex workers in Bradford.

And we will be talking about Alone in Berlin - a book written in 1947 about an ordinary German couple who took on the Nazis - which has become a surprise hit.

What does it tell us about the nature and scale of German resisistance during World War II, and about modern Germany's relationship with its past?

Join us at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two.
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Here's the plan for tonight:

Lyse Doucet has gained rare access to Pul-e-Charkhi, Afghanistan's most notorious prison, which is located east of the capital, Kabul.

It is home to around 5,000 men including many Taliban and al-Qaeda inmates and tonight we have a fascinating film from inside its gates.

Paul Mason will be considering if we are on the verge of a second banking crisis and how exposed our banks are to the sovereign debt crisis.

And we'll be asking what Alone in Berlin - a book written in 1947 about an ordinary German couple who took on the Nazis - which has become a surprise hit tells us about modern Germany's relationship with its past.

More details later.

Here's Emily with more details on tonight's edition of the programme:

Hats off Strangers,

As he left his West London home this morning, awaiting reporters called out to David Cameron "Are there any surprises, prime minister?"

This was the 56th time the Queen has opened parliament - but her first time ever with a coalition government. The surprise - essentially - was seeing this new parliament in all its tangible, panoplied glory.

Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke eschewing hush puppies for judge's wig, the chiselled jaws of Cameron and Clegg, side by side, whose very head movements have now started to mimic each other. The new ministers - coupled by their Labour counterparts - now in opposition.

We have spent two weeks getting used to the theory, but this is what it will look like in the flesh. So what's on the menu?

A wholesale reform of schools, a shake up of the welfare system and measures to tackle the budget deficit are at the heart of the first 18-month programme. And (for those seeking a unifying ideology) this - public services reshaped to encourage individual and social responsibility.

Tonight we will be analysing the measures in full, asking the coalition government and Ed Balls for Labour if this 'political pre-nup' will ensure a strong marriage.

World stock markets have fallen sharply over fears about the crisis in the eurozone and a Korean black swan. In Spain four banks are rumoured to have merged, and the Dow is on high alert.

In the UK the FTSE has lost ten percent in the last month. How will the economics of the real world play into the politics of parliament? Paul Mason is on the case.

Join us tonight at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two.

Emily
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From earlier today:

Major plans to reform schools, police, welfare and Britain's political system are at the heart of the coalition government's first Queen's Speech.

But the Queen said cutting the budget deficit and restoring growth would be the new government's "first priority".

The 22 Bills set out in detail what Prime Minister David Cameron hopes to achieve over the next 18 months.

The programme reflects compromises reached by the Conservatives and Lib Dems when they agreed to share power.

Tonight we'll be examining it all in detail, and our political panel of Olly Grender, Danny Finkelstein and Peter Hyman will be giving us their analysis.

More details later.

More details on tonight's programme:

Today, Chancellor George Osborne got out the scalpel and cut government spending to the tune of $6.2bn.

The measures announced by Mr Osborne included an end to Child Trust Funds, and cuts to quangos, spending on consultancy, big IT projects and a civil service recruitment freeze.

Treasury Secretary David Laws, who was at the chancellor's side as he outlined details of his plan, said the measures were designed to send a "shockwave" through government departments and discourage waste.

But painful though $6.2bn of cuts may be, today could be a mere trimming of the fat when compared expected much deeper incisions aimed at paying down the £156bn deficit.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason was at the chancellor's press conference this morning and will be taking us through the details tonight, asking how far the cuts will go in rectifying our dire public finances and what the impact on the economy will be.

Jackie Long is in Sheffield to find out what a move to "austerity Britain" will mean for front line services and people and businesses on the ground.

David Grossman will be examining the political tension created by today's announcement - a huge challenge for a still-untested coalition - and looking forward to tomorrow's Queen's Speech.

And in the studio a panel of expert commentators will be discussing what effect a switch from a time of plenty to a time of austerity, with a reduction in the size of the state, will have on society.

Plus we have a moving film from Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet, looking at the plight of the tens of thousands of children forced to work on the streets of Kabul - often as the sole breadwinner for a whole family.
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Here is what we are planning for tonight's programme:

Chancellor George Osborne has outlined plans for £6.2bn in spending cuts, saying "urgent action" was necessary to address the budget deficit.

He said there would be a civil service recruitment freeze, as well as cuts to IT programmes, property and quangos.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason was at the chancellor's press conference this morning and will be taking us through the details tonight.

Michael Crick will be taking us through the politics of the announcement and looking forward to tomorrow's Queen's Speech.

And Jackie Long is in Sheffield to find out what a move to "austerity Britain" will mean for businesses and people on the ground.

Plus we have a moving film from Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet, looking at the plight of the tens of thousands of children forced to work on the streets of Kabul - often as the sole breadwinner for a whole family.

More details later.

MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Tonight we are focussing on the future of the eurozone, and Britain's relationship to it.

David Cameron has held talks in Berlin today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the second leg of his first European trip since becoming prime minister.

The meeting took place against against a backdrop of financial turmoil across Europe and calls for tighter regulation of markets to support the troubled euro.

However, after the talks Mr Cameron insisted that there was "no question" of him backing any treaty giving the EU more powers to shore up the eurozone.

Peter Marshall is in Berlin tonight to bring us the latest on that. And Stephanie Flanders will be reporting from Brussels where EU finance ministers have started laying out new, tougher rules for their public finances.

Will their actions be enough to win back market confidence and get a handle on the debt crisis that is threatening the euro?

Gavin Esler will be talking to eminent economists including Joseph Stiglitz and Irwin Stelzer.

Plus, as the Lib-Con coalition settles in to the business of running the country we ask if we are seeing a realignment of the Liberal centre right and the redrawing of the party political map for a generation or more.

Two leading newspaper columnists - Andrew Rawnsley and Anne McElvoy - will be giving us their view.

ENTRY FROM 1120BST:

The German parliament is to vote on its contribution to a 750bn euro ($938bn, £651bn) rescue deal for the eurozone today and David Cameron will be meet the German Chancellor Angela Merkel later.

Peter Marshall is in Berlin and will bring us the latest on the day's events and we hope to speak to some leading economists about the future of the euro.

And at the end of week one of the coalition, the Lib Dems and the Conservatives seem to have worked well together - so tonight we will be asking if we are seeing a realignment of the Liberal centre right and the redrawing of the party political map for a generation or more.

More details later.

UPDATE: HERE'S KIRSTY WITH MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT:

"We'll always have Paris", but for how long will we have the euro?

Perhaps the thief that stole paintings, including work by Picasso, Matisse and Braque, from Paris' Museum of Modern Art thought he better move fast - reputedly worth 600 million euros today - what will they be worth tomorrow?

Anyway, David Cameron is flying to Paris to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy to establish a new engagement with Europe, but as the markets continue to reel from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's action to stop short selling of euro bonds, will Mr Sarkozy be looking for Britain to come to the rescue? And will the prime minister say "Non"?

We were treated to the full marriage contract between the Tories and the Lib Dems today - everything from nuclear power, to broadband, to free schools and the Post Office - so what's been ditched and what's been stitched to sew up the deal?

In pursuit of power, is pragmatism the new mantra, and principle dead as a dodo?

We have an exclusive live interview with the maverick science
entrepreneur Craig Venter who is announcing a scientific breakthrough at 7pm.

And Hofesh Shechter is the Israeli choreographer whose sinuous, primal work is creating a new audience for dance.

His first full length piece Political Mother premieres at the Brighton Festival this weekend. The ±«Óãtv's Arts Editor Will Gompertz speaks to him.

ENTRY FROM 1133BST:

Details of the coalition deal struck between the Tories and the Lib Dems have been published in what the parties have described as an "historic document".

Iain Watson will be poring over the details of the coalition agreement to see what is missing.

Peter Marshall is in Paris where David Cameron is on his first big European visit, meeting the French President Nicolas Sarkozy against the backdrop of a eurozone in crisis.

The Lib Dems and Conservatives hold completely different views on Europe, but does the situation of the euro vindicate the Conservative's position?

We'll also be hearing live from Stephanie Flanders who is in Berlin, where Mr Cameron will meet the German Chancellor Angela Merkel tomorrow.

Susan Watts will be meeting the American biologist and entrepreneur Craig Venter.

And Will Gompertz will be profiling the Israeli Hofesh Shechter - one of the biggest names in British choreography.

More details later.

Some more details on what is coming up on tonight's programme:

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has promised the "biggest shake-up of our democracy" in 178 years as he sets out plans for political reform. The Tory-Lib Dem coalition is proposing fixed-term parliaments, an elected House of Lords and a referendum on changing the voting system. Tonight we'll bring you the latest on day three of the 'new politics'.

Former cabinet minister Ed Balls has announced he is joining the contest to succeed Gordon Brown as Labour leader. Brothers David and Ed Miliband are also standing, but left-wing MP John McDonnell - who says he wants to stand - reckons the process is "stitched up". Tonight David Grossman will be profiling Mr Balls and looking at how the leadership contest is shaping up.

Meanwhile, as tensions between North and South Korea escalate we have a report from Sue Lloyd Roberts who has had rare access to the secretive North Korean state ahead of a report by a multinational team into the causes of the sinking of South Korea's Cheonan warship. She also crosses the border to speak to a military defector who claims multiple sources in North Korea have told him that the ship sank as a result of an attack by the armed forces in which he once served. Pyongyang has denied responsibility for the tragedy. .

And there was Misha the bear cub in Moscow, Sam the eagle in LA, a dachshund called Waldi in Munich, and Proteas the seahorse in Athens. But who will London choose as its Olympic mascot to represent the cultural heritage of the home of the 2012 Olympics? Stephen Smith will report on the unveiling.

Join Jeremy at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two.
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Nick Clegg is making a speech shortly on the new politics. He's likely to be asked about growing strains over the Human Rights Act, and there are also rumblings on the Tory right about Capital Gains Tax and fox hunting.

South Korea is expected to confirm tomorrow that North Korea torpedoed their warship in March this year with the loss of 46 sailors. Sue Lloyd Roberts has been to Korea for Newsnight.

Ed Balls and John McDonnell are expected to throw their hats in the Labour leadership ring today and we'll bring you any developments.

And Stephen Smith will be at the unveiling of the Olympic Mascot.

More details later.

UPDATE: MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

There was much jollity at the House of Commons today as MPs gathered for the first time since the general election, particularly when the newly re-elected Speaker John Bercow called the prime minister to speak and there was a brief pause - before MPs told David Cameron: "That's you!"

But away from the chamber, the government is facing a test after a special immigration court ruled that the alleged leader of an al-Qaeda plot to bomb targets in north west England should not be deported home to Pakistan because he faces torture or death there.

The government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Carlile, said the Human Rights Act prevented Abid Naseer's return and called for ministers to find a new way of dealing with suspects.

Given that when they were in opposition Conservatives opposed the Human Rights Act and the Lib Dems opposed control orders restricting suspects' movements what will that response be? Richard Watson reports.

We will report on a story touched on in Jeremy's interview with David Laws last night - an alleged "spending spree" by Labour ministers in the dying days of their tenure, a story previously dismissed by former ministers as coalition "spin".

The ±«Óãtv has learned that a number of Whitehall's most senior civil service chiefs lodged formal protests at decisions being made by ministers, demanding written - and soon to be published - instructions from their political masters.

We will also be looking at whether middle and upper middle income workers are going to suffer most under the new coalition - totting up the cost of a scaling back of child tax credits, of rising tuition fees and no cut in inheritance tax against the backdrop of a rising cost of living.

Plus, 10 years ago, Allan Little reported on the civil war that tore Sierra Leone apart and the British military intervention that stopped it. Now he returns to look at the story behind that military action and its legacy for Sierra Leone and for Britain.

ENTRY FROM 1128BST

MPs will gather in the House of Commons today for the first time since the election. As the government and opposition switch seats we will be asking whether the "new politics" can work in the old place.

We will also be looking at whether middle and upper middle income workers are going to suffer most under the new coalition - totting up the cost of a scaling back of child tax credits, rising tuition fees and no cut in inheritance tax against the backdrop of a rising cost of living.

Also, the alleged leader of an al-Qaeda plot to bomb targets in North West England has won his appeal against deportation. A special immigration court said Abid Naseer was an al-Qaeda operative - but could not be deported because he faced torture or death back home in Pakistan.

How will the new government respond to their first real test on dealing with terror?

Plus, 10 years ago, Allan Little reported on the civil war that tore Sierra Leone apart and the British military intervention that stopped it. Now he returns to look at the story behind that military action and its legacy for Sierra Leone and for Britain.

More details later.

UPDATE - MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

We've just despatched Jeremy to Whitehall to interview David Laws, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the man with the unenviable task of deciding which government departments will be hardest hit in £6bn of spending cuts this year.

Chancellor George Osborne has said the government will announce next week how it plans to make the cuts.

Tonight David Grossman will be examining the chancellor's plans for a new Office of Budget Responsibility and his workings on how to tackle the deficit.

Michael Crick will be looking at the runners and riders in the Labour leadership contest and Justin Rowlatt has been talking to a Newsnight focus group to find out whom they would like to see leading the opposition.

Plus one of the candidates who have already thrown his hat in the ring, former foreign secretary David Miliband, will be talking to us live on the programme.

And Susan Watts will have the latest on the new volcanic ash which has triggered a new wave of flight disruptions and airport closures across the country.

Last time the volcanic ash drifted our way Europe's airports opened when aviation experts lifted the levels of ash concentration in which planes were allowed to operate.

This time they want hard data - but how long will this take?

ENTRY FROM 1138BST

Chancellor George Osborne has said the government will announce next week how it plans to make £6bn in spending cuts this year.

Tonight David Grossman will be examining the chancellor's plans for a new Office of Budget Responsibility and his workings on how to tackle the deficit. Plus we hope to have our first big Treasury interview.

Michael Crick will be looking at the runners and riders in the Labour leadership contest and Jonny Heald reconvenes a Newsnight focus group whom he spoke to prior to the election to ask them who they'd like to see leading Labour in opposition.

More details later.

MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

We've heard all about the Dave and Nick love-in, but what about the rest of the coalition?

Tonight Michael Crick will be looking at working relations across the cabinet, pinpointing where there is likely to be agreement, and where discord.

Justin Rowlatt is in Thirsk and Malton where the differences between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are out in the open as candidates fight each other in the delayed constituency poll despite the parties' new coalition at Westminster.

And we'll end the programme with a discussion about the extraordinary changes that have occurred in British politics over the past week.

Might the Tories be rehabilitated by the partnership and no longer be seen as the nasty party? And could the coalition deal Lib Dems a hammer blow come the next election?

ENTRY FROM 1155BST

They are the couple faced with perhaps the hardest job of all ministers in the new government - to sort out the economy and banks - and tonight our Political editor Michael Crick will be scrutinising the relationship between new workmates, Vince Cable and George Osborne.

Could they make or break the coalition?

Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be watching events as the new UK Foreign Secretary William Hague meets his US counterpart Hillary Clinton in Washington DC.

Justin Rowlatt is in Thirsk and Malton where the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are to fight each other in the delayed election despite the parties' new coalition at Westminster.

And we'll end the programme with a discussion about the extraordinary changes that have occurred in British politics over the past week. Might the Tories be rehabilitated by the partnership and no longer be seen as the nasty party? And could the coalition deal Lib Dems a hammer blow come the next election?

More details later.

MORE DETAIL ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

David Cameron has chaired his new cabinet's first meeting at Number 10, a meeting which saw both sides of the coalition coming together with a "sense of common purpose," according to Education Secretary Michael Gove.

But while Mr Gove may be talking of unity the newly formed coalition government is facing a possible rebellion over controversial plans to raise the threshold for a successful no confidence vote to 55% of MPs.

Such a plan would be a radical shift from the current system under which MPs need a simple majority of one to force a dissolution of government.

Tonight, David Grossman will be reporting on that, as well as the Cabinet meeting and the appointment of other ministers to the government today.

Liz MacKean will report on what kind of welfare shake-up the government could be planning when they begin their programme of public spending cuts.

We have a film from Pakistan by reporter Owen Bennett-Jones looking at how the growth of the Taliban is being driven by economic inequality in the country.

Plus, oil company BP PLC has announced today that its costs for fighting a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have risen by $100m in three days, to a current total of about $450m.

We will be looking at growing anger among American politicians over the spill and spiralling clean up costs, especially in light of a report by US Congressional investigators that the device meant to stop oil leaking after last month's explosion was faulty, and that such safety equipment on tens of thousands of US offshore rigs are barely regulated.

ENTRY FROM 1227BST:

Members of the cabinet have been getting down to business at the first meeting, as David Cameron finalises his coalition team - our Political correspondent David Grossman is keeping across all of that and will be reporting on the day's events tonight.

We have a film from Pakistan by reporter Owen Bennett-Jones looking at how the growth of the Taliban is being driven by economic inequality in the country.

And we are also looking at welfare reform and the BP oil spill, amid a claim from US Congressional investigators that the device meant to stop oil leaking from a Gulf of Mexico well after last month's rig explosion was faulty.

Here's Kirsty with news of what is happening on tonight's edition:

We've just had the first joint press conference of the new coalition government against the background of birdsong, and I'm sure I heard turtle doves.

The burning question is - what will be the new logo of this government - a yellow bird in a green tree?

Tonight as the shape of the government becomes clear and the policy priorities start to shape up, Newsnight's Michael Crick will paint a picture of how all this will work and we are confident of Cabinet-level Conservative and Liberal Democrat interviews.

We will also be looking at how women fare in coalition jobs. With the prospect of fewer women round the Cabinet table than at any time since 1997, what kind of signal does this send about the new politics?

And how is the City responding to the new political reality? As I write the markets are up. Paul Mason will set out the challenges for George Osborne, Vince Cable and David Laws on the deficit, tax reform and banking rules.

Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be rifling through new Foreign Secretary William Hague's in-tray to consider what the big foreign policy issues facing the new government might be.

Plus, the former Labour minister Caroline Flint has called for an early Labour leadership election. Alan Johnson has already come out for David Miliband, the PLP meets this afternoon and tonight we'll have the latest on the runners and their backers.

Join us at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two.
Kirsty

New UK Prime Minister David Cameron is beginning to shape his government, after the Conservatives agreed to form a historic coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

Tonight, our Political editor Michael Crick will doing a who's-who on the new Cabinet.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason will be examining the deals that have been done between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives on the economy and tax, and asking what's going to change.

And our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be rifling through William Hague's new in-tray to consider what the big foreign policy issues facing the new government might be.

More details later.

HERE'S KIRSTY WARK WITH MORE ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME:

Could we have a new government by tonight?

Events at Westminster are proving endlessly fascinating - hundreds are gathered at Westminster and on College Green, some with loud hailers!

Cabinet ministers (and Alastair Campbell) are to-ing and fro-ing in Downing Street, and there are some very high level dissenters from the Lib-Lab duet, so is a Con Lib deal now odds on?

And thank you for watching last night - at our peak 1.6 million of you were watching.

But is this Dutch auction going to irritate the electorate eventually?

Tonight, we will have the very latest news - more big interviews - analysis from Michael Crick, and the impact on the markets from Paul Mason.

And we'll be whistling up our Political Panel of Danny Finkelstein, Olly Grender and Peter Hyman, who you might remember on Friday's programme, did some role playing on the deal making - it seems a very long time ago.

What do they think now? Has Nick Clegg squeezed everything he can out of his suitors?

We've squeezed an extra 10 minutes out of the channel, so come with us again for the ride.

ENTRY FROM 1139BST:

Conservative leader David Cameron says it is "decision time for the Liberal Democrats" over who to back for government.

So, will there be a deal today? And if one emerges how viable will it be?

Tonight we'll bring you the latest on all of the day's events.

Our Economics editor Paul Mason will assess how the markets are likely to react to the various possible outcomes.

Stephen Smith has returned to Donington Park Motorway Services to assess the mood of his new found friends there. How do people feel about the state of flux that British politics is in, five days on from the inconclusive general election?

And we're reconvening our political panel of Olly Grender, Peter Hyman and Danny Finkelstein to find out what they make of it all.

More details later.

Here's Kirsty with more details on what's coming up on tonight's programme:

It's 3pm in the afternoon and we have no idea how the programme will open tonight - it couldn't be any more exciting. Will we have a new government or not? And at what price? Is this all about pragmatism now, not principle? Nick Clegg is meeting Lib Dem MPs as I write, and he has to carry 75% of his MPs in the first instance. David Cameron is at the moment meeting his Shadow Cabinet. There are also lines of communication open between the Lib Dems and Labour.

And if a deal is done between the Conservatives and Lib Dems, where does that leave Gordon Brown? No matter what we'll be talking to senior politicians on the show and Michael Crick and David Grossman will be making sense of it all - if there is sense of it to be made.

The eurozone and the International Monetary Fund have found 750 billion euros to sort out the Greek debt crisis and the markets have responded well. Will this be enough to restore Euro stability? Paul Mason has the answer.

And we'll be joined by some new MPs to discuss their roles in the next parliament.

Kirsty
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From earlier today...

Here's what we're planning for tonight:

Nick Clegg has asked people to "bear with us" a bit longer as the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives enter a third day of negotiations on forming a government. Tonight Michael Crick will be explaining the extent of any likely agreenment and outlining what the sticking points might be.

David Grossman will be investigating how any deal is likely to go down with the grassroots of both the parties.

And Paul Mason will be examining the Euro bailout deal and the measures that have been taken to counter the risk of the Greek crisis spreading to other countries.

More details later.

Throughout the general election Jeremy Paxman has been presenting a series of special Newsnight programmes on Saturdays, and tonight at 6.30pm we have our final edition.

We will get the latest news on how the Conservative-Liberal Democrat negotiations are progressing from our Political editor Michael Crick, and will be talking to senior politicians from the three main parties.

And we will be putting this hung parliament into context with a look back at previous hung parliaments in Britain.

Jeremy will be discussing the outcome of this extraordinary election with historians Simon Schama and David Kynaston, and British Vogue magazine editor Alexandra Shulman.

For a wry look at the drama of the last few days he will be joined by the comedians Steve Punt, Rebecca Front and Richard Herring.

And we will be hearing what our studio audience makes of the result, and finding out what they think should happen now.

We also have the final election animation made specifically for Newsnight by Apple Daily - the Taiwanese TV team whose past political films have become an online sensation.
What will they make of a hung parliament?

And ending the show with a bang, we have a live performance from the band behind 2009's most critically acclaimed album, the xx.

In view of the extraordinary election result and current lack of clarity about how the drama is going to unfold, tonight's edition of Newsnight has been extended - the programme will begin at 10.30pm as usual, but we will be on air until 11.40pm.

Right now the team are working hard to ensure that we have the best line-up of politicians and pundits who can throw light on the all-important question of what happens next.

Nick Clegg has already made a speech in which he said the Tories had the first right to seek to govern, and David Cameron is lined up to make a speech at 2.30pm in which he is expected to say he plans to govern "in the national interest".

Our Political editor Michael Crick is looking at whether David Cameron can form a minority government, David Grossman is looking at whether Labour could cling to power.

We will be getting a constitutional expert's view on what should happen under the official rules.

Paul Mason will be looking at the economic impact of the result, as well as bringing us the latest on the Euro crisis.

Liz MacKean is in Belfast, where David Cameron's Ulster Unionist allies have failed to pick up a single seat.

And Tim Whewell is looking at the issue of voters being turned away from polling stations last night.

However, nothing is set in stone, as events change, so could the programme, so we will update you with more details later.

ENTRY FROM 1057

The Conservatives have won the most MPs in the UK general election but fallen short of a majority, leading to the first hung parliament in 36 years. At the time of writing the Tories have gained 92 seats, Labour have lost 86 and the Lib Dems six, despite hopes of a breakthrough for the third party. Their leader Nick Clegg has said he sticks to his view that the party with most votes and seats - the Conservatives - should seek to form a government.

Counting continues and results are still coming in, but we'll bring you more details of what's coming up in tonight's programme here shortly.

More detail on tonight's programme:

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are now well into their final day push for votes, as polls suggest the election result is on a knife edge.

Our Political editor Michael Crick is currently with Mr Cameron in Montgomeryshire, Lembit Opik's seat which has only once voted for the government party in the last 130 years (read Michael's blog here). Later Michael will be following Mr Cameron on to his final campaign rally in Bristol.

David Grossman is spending the day with Mr Brown - travelling from Skelmersdale to Carlisle and then Dumfries. And Justin Rowlatt will be in Durham and Sheffield with Mr Clegg.

We'll be analysing the final opinion polls of the campaign to be published tonight and our political panel of Olly Grender, Peter Hyman and Danny Finkelstein will be debating with Jeremy for the last time before the ballot boxes open.

Yes Minister's master of obfuscation Sir Humphrey will deliver his third and final memo to the minister - tonight looking at the Labour party's manifesto promises and giving advice for any incoming minister. Watch his Memo for the and the here.

And, election aside, our Economics editor will be reporting tonight on the Greek crisis. At least three people have been killed in Athens today as protesters set fire to a bank during a general strike over planned austerity measures. Read more on Paul's blog.

Do join Jeremy at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two for all that. Don't forget that we'll be off air on polling day, but Newsnight returns on Friday at the usual time and on the usual channel for an election results show with Kirsty Wark.
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FROM EARLIER:
With some polls suggesting that almost four in 10 people could still change their mind about how they will vote, the party leaders are spending the last day of the campaign criss-crossing the country.

Michael Crick is with David Cameron in Montgomeryshire, David Grossman is in Skelmersdale with Gordon Brown, and Justin Rowlatt is in Durham with Nick Clegg and we'll have reports from each of them

Then Jeremy Vine will be giving us a sneak preview of his election night graphics.

Our election panel of Olly Grender, Peter Hyman and Danny Finkelstein will meet for the last time tonight before the country goes to the polls.

And Yes Minister's master of obfuscation Sir Humphrey delivers his third and final memo to the minister - tonight he'll be looking at the Labour party's manifesto promises and giving his advice for any incoming minister.

More later.

Here's more info on what we're covering on tonight's programme:
Gordon Brown has said he will take "full responsibility" if Labour fails to win the general election. Meanwhile, Ed Balls and Peter Hain have been urging people to consider voting tactically in marginal seats to keep the Conservatives out.

Michael Crick is in Manchester for us tonight where Labour are holding a rally later. He'll be examining the party's strategy for the final few days of the campaign and then Jeremy will be asking Ed Miliband about Labour's future.

David Grossman is in Glasgow trying to keep up with David Cameron's marathon 24-hour campaigning schedule. David also hopes to catch a glimpse of Nick Clegg who is also due to make an appearance there today.

Richard Watson has been investigating allegations of postal vote fraud in London and the northern mill towns.

And Stephen Smith is in Donington Park services on the M1 motorway for the latest instalment of Motorway Man. This week he's joined by Will Self and pop trio Scouting for Girls.

Join Jeremy at 10.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two
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FROM EARLIER TODAY:

Tonight, we'll be following each of the three big parties and taking in a grand sweep of the UK in the final hours of campaigning.

David Grossman is out on the road and Michael Crick will be at Labour's rally in Manchester later. Michael will be examining the party's strategy as Ed Balls and Peter Hain urge people to consider voting tactically in marginal seats to keep the Conservatives out.

We'll be asking Ed Miliband about all of that.

And we'll be looking at some of the different constitutional scenarios that we could be facing come Friday - where will power lie? With whom, and on what legal basis?

And Stephen Smith is in Donington Park services on the M1 motorway for the latest instalment of Motorway Man, this week he's joined by Will Self.

More details later.

It may be a bank holiday, but with just days until the election this is no time for the politicians to let up, nor for Newsnight either - so tonight we have a programme at the earlier than usual time of 7.30pm.

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are spending the bank holiday hitting key seats they hope to win on 6 May.

Michael Crick is in Ipswich where the prime minister is campaigning, flanked by Dragons' Den entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne.

With the polls suggesting that the election result remains in the balance we have gathered together a focus group of undecided voters to get a snapshot, albeit an unscientific one, of what they are thinking.

In a revealing session they talk about hung parliaments, change, and what they think about each of the main party leaders.

And we also hope to be joined by senior politicians from the three main parties.

Join Jeremy Paxman at 7.30pm on ±«Óãtv Two.