WITH all the manifestos published and digested, there was time to examine which policies were a hit with the voters – and whether any party can get that elusive ‘bounce’?

The first poll contained some cheer for both the Conservatives and Labour, but gave feedback to make any Liberal Democrat cry out in frustration.

The good news for Ed Miliband is that, according to YouGov, all of ten key policies from the Labour manifesto are backed by at least 50 per cent of voters.

And that list was topped by the one where Labour is normally marked down – the economy and the pledge to cut the deficit every year in the next parliament.

In contrast, two big Tory manifesto commitments got the thumbs-down, with only 28 per cent of voters supporting both the expansion of right-to-buy and the opening of 500 new free schools.

On the other hand, the most popular policy of all – ensuring no-one on the minimum wage pays any income tax (80 per cent) – comes from the Conservative prospectus.

And that’s what will leave Nick Clegg with steam coming out of his ears, because this was originally a Lib Dem brainwave, which David Cameron dismissed as too costly.

In the best political tradition, the Tories then nicked the policy as their own….and look like reaping their rewards.

Mr Clegg may have been too busy to worry, publishing a set of eye-catching playing cards to terrify voters about an alliance of Ukip, the Democratic Unionists and right-wing Tory backbenchers.

This “Blukip” Coalition would slash public services and hack back human rights legislation and can only be thwarted by voting – you’ve guessed it - Liberal Democrat.

At Westminster, David Cameron (prime minister) would be “held to ransom” by Nigel Farage (deputy prime minister), fellow Kipper Douglas Carswell (Treasury chief secretary) and Ian Paisley Jr (welfare reduction).

Are you trembling yet?

Quote of the day: David Cameron, on being shown a newspaper cartoon of himself and George Osborne: “You definitely got George's bulbous nose and my chubby cheeks.”

Gaffe of the day: Labour’s Tristram Hunt, asking a young boy in Derbyshire who he would vote for. The boy replied: “UKIP - to get all the foreigners out the country.”