Tussles over Bills on last day of Parliament

As Labour's National Executive Committee, union bosses and party officials signed off its election manifesto – understood to include a headline promise to hold the basic rate of income tax at 20p during the next Parliament – the Commons and Lords signed off.

In a frantic 48-hour "wash-up" period ministers were forced to ditch large parts of their legislative plans.

Among the worst hit was the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill where the Government sparked Liberal Democrat fury by dropping plans to hold a referendum on the voting system and to remove hereditary peerages by ending the system of Lords by-elections when one dies.

The Government has also criticised the Tories for refusing to back plans to make "life skills", including sex education, compulsory in all schools.

About 20 other Bills did make it onto the statute book, including the controversial Digital Economy Act and the Crime and Security Bill. The Tories dropped their opposition to the latter but pledged to amend its controversial DNA database provisions if they win the election.

In a last flourish of pomp and pageantry ahead of the election battle, both Houses were prorogued before Parliament is formally dissolved on Monday.

Hundreds of MPs headed off from Westminster to begin their campaigning in earnest while others left the Commons for the final time as an MP.

At least 145 won't be returning as they are standing down – nearly twice the number who retired at the last election in 2005. For many the Parliament will be remembered for the worst possible reason, with the expenses scandal engulfing politicians from all parties.