Lib Dem manifesto launch 'wasn't quite like the others'

By Emily Morgan: ITV News Political Correspondent

The Liberal Democrat manifesto launch wasn't quite like the other parties'. It was held in a "creative space", a bit like a trendy bar. With disco lights.

This is serious stuff though. Their policies are focused on working people, parents and what Nick Clegg calls "fair minded" people.

Their big pledge is to be the only party that's offering to increase education spending above inflation in the second half of the next parliament.

It's a lot of money - £2.5 billion each year after the deficit has been eliminated in 2017/18.

But the amount is predicated on how much the economy will grow. If it doesn't grow at around 2% each yeast the funding will be less. They don't have a Plan B to guarantee the spending.

On health, they've guaranteed £8 billion a year extra by 2020. On childcare, they're offering 20 hours free childcare for parents with nine months - four year olds (eventually).

When it comes to deficit reduction they've promised to eliminate by 2017/18 with a mix of spending cuts and tax rises and in housing they've outlined a rent to buy scheme.

All very punter friendly, all very reasonable you might say.

But what Nick Clegg hasn't told us is which bits are non-negotiable and which bits could be scrapped in any coalition deal.

So will the education spend be a red line? Or will he let is go in the deal room come May 8.

He's broken promises on education before and could do the same again.

That's the sort of thing voters will want to know and leaving the "dealing" until after the election is very risky.

Why should voters have faith in any of the manifesto if it could disappear in a puff of smoke?