ED Miliband is preparing for tonight's election debate showdown with David Cameron and other party leaders by getting out and talking to voters.

The Labour leader said he values the chance to “talk directly” in the live broadcast about how he wants to change the country. But party sources refused to be drawn on whether Mr Miliband had done practice sessions against a panel posing as his opponents.

During a visit to the David Brown factory in Huddersfield, which makes gear systems for the defence and energy sector, Mr Miliband said: “The way I’m going to prepare for this debate is by coming to talk to good people here and keep campaigning.