General election: Six weeks that shaped the campaign

Britain's voters heads to the polls on Thursday in what has been described as the closest election in a generation. Here are some key moments on the campaign trail.

Monday March 30 Prime Minister David Cameron leaves No 10 to see the Queen for the official dissolution of parliament.

'In 38 days you will face a stark choice: the next prime minister walking through that door will be me or Ed Miliband,' he declared.

Tuesday March 31Office for National Statistics revises GDP growth up to 2.8 per cent, the fastest rate of growth since 2006

More than 100 business leaders, including former Labour donors and FTSE 100 chiefs, endorse the Conservative party in The Daily Telegraph. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca, changes his mind two days later.

Wednesday April 1Labour vows to ban zero-hours contracts

Stuart Rose, former chief executive of Marks and Spencer, gives his view of the proposals: 'I seem to remember 10 years ago Tony Blair suggested that they would reduce zero-hours contracts. Ten years later we are all trying. It's a laudable ambition but you can't do it by legislation.'

Thursday April 2 Britain experiences its first seven-way TV debate. Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National party, wins a new fan base in England with her performance.

Nigel Farage, Ukip leader: "You can come into Britain, from anywhere in the world, and get diagnosed with HIV, and get the antiretroviral drugs which cost up to £25,000 per year per patient."

"You should be ashamed of yourself," retorted Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader.

Sunday 5 April The Sun finds Ed Miliband's cribsheet for the TV debate, which includes a cue for the Labour leader to present himself as "a happy warrior".

Wednesday 8 AprilLabour announces it would ban the non-dom tax status used to avoid taxes on foreign income and capital gains.

Thursday 9 AprilMichael Fallon, defence secretary, is accused of negative campaigning after he said Ed Miliband was willing to "stab the United Kingdom in the back to become prime minister".

Saturday 11 AprilThe Conservative party tries to wrongfoot Labour over healthcare by announcing it would meet the £8bn extra funding target set by NHS chief Simon Stevens.

Monday 13 AprilManifesto week begins with Ed Miliband announcing Labour's plans for the country: a "budget responsibility lock" to eliminate the current account deficit, a minimum wage of £8 an hour and frozen energy prices - all funded without added borrowing.

Tuesday 14 AprilDavid Cameron launches the Conservative manifesto for a "good life" in Britain, with plans for free childcare, extended right to buy powers and a tax-free minimum wage.

Wednesday 15 AprilNick Clegg promises "a world-class education for every child", as he puts £2.5bn education spending at the top of a list of Liberal Democrat priorities that include £8bn for the NHS and an income tax threshold at £12,500.

The Ukip manifesto offers a bounty of tax cuts and spending promises, including £12bn for the NHS and defence spending at 2 per cent of GDP - to be funded by a British exit from the European Union and cuts to foreign aid and Scotland.

Friday 17 AprilUnemployment reaches a seven-year-low, causing a row over whether the UK has experienced a "jobs miracle" or low-wage growth.

David Cameron: "We are living through a jobs miracle brought to you by a Conservative government."

Chuka Umunna, shadow business secretary: "On average people are earning £1,600 less now than they were in May 2010."

Sunday 19 AprilDavid Cameron tries to evoke the spirit of Margaret Thatcher by announcing retail investors will be able to take part in a £9bn sale of Lloyds shares after the election.

Monday 20 AprilThe SNP launches a manifesto pledging to oppose austerity, tax the wealthy and push for £24bn added spending on the NHS. The Tories step up their warnings that Labour will have to rely on the nationalists if they are the biggest party.

Tuesday 21 AprilA new daily record is set when nearly half a million people register to vote ahead of Monday's midnight deadline. Almost all registered electronically, taking advantage of the online sign up service introduced last year.

Thursday 23 AprilThe Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank analyses the four main parties' spending plans and found the Conservatives to be aiming for the lowest levels of borrowing. It also noted the SNP's budget plans were similar to Labour's because lighter austerity from the nationalists would be sustained for a longer period of time.

Friday 24 AprilEd Miliband criticises David Cameron for contributing to the Mediterranean migrant crisis by mishandling "post-conflict planning" in Libya. Mr Cameron says the comments are an "ill-judged intervention".

Sunday 26 AprilLabour outlines plans to peg rent increases to the level of inflation for three years in order to protect renters from the supply crisis in the housing market. Business groups and landlords strike back saying the measure will deter investment.

The Labour leader rules out an informal confidence-and-supply arrangement with the SNP in an attempt to defuse Conservative claims that he would have to work with the SNP. The Labour party has previously ruled out a formal coalition with the SNP.

Monday 27 AprilEd Miliband says a Labour government would help first-time buyers on to the property ladder by abolishing stamp duty on starter homes worth up to £300,000.

Tuesday 28 AprilWeak output from the construction and production industries causes first-quarter UK growth to slow to its lowest level since 2012, casting a shadow over election campaigning.

Wednesday 29 AprilDavid Cameron promises to legislate to prevent future increases in income tax, VAT and national insurance over the next parliament.

Russell Brand, who will go on to endorse Labour, releases an interview with Ed Miliband on his YouTube channel. David Cameron dismisses the maverick leftwinger as a "joke".

David Cameron: "He says don't vote . . . he is funny. Right? . . . You know politics and life and elections and jobs and the economy is not a joke."

Thursday April 30The Financial Times, which has no fixed party-political allegiances, endorses a continued Conservative-Lib Dem coalition. It says that though there are risks involved in re-electing the Conservative party, "there are greater risks in not doing so".

During a three-way debate between David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, the Labour leader says he would rather not form the next government than make a deal with the SNP.

Friday May 1 Sterling falls 1.3 per cent against the dollar as markets finally show queasiness at the prospect of an untidy election outcome.

Sunday May 3 Ed Miliband unveils a stone etched with six Labour pledges including promises to ensure "a strong economic foundation" and aim for "higher living standards for working families". The event prompts widespread mockery with the slogan #EdStone trending on Twitter.

Monday May 4 Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy is forced to abandon an election rally in Glasgow after anti-Labour protesters accost him with chants of "red Tories out".

Tuesday May 5 The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats decide not to hold their customary election night parties this week amid the prospect of messy coalition deals in a hung parliament.

Wednesday May 6 Ukip managed to slip up on the last day of the campaign: the party's MP for North East Hampshire, Robert Blay, was suspended from the party after threatening to shoot his Conservative opponent Ranil Jayawardena amid xenophobic comments.

"His family have only been here since the 70s. [He is] not British enough to be in our parliament," he said.

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