THE fall-out from the TV ‘Question Time’ showdown concentrated on allegations of “dirty tricks” that allowed a secret Tory voter to wound Ed Miliband.

Catherine Shuttleworth was given a seat as an “undecided voter” – then lambasted the Labour leader for allowing his sidekick Ed Balls to describe the infamous “no money left” note as a joke.

But, on the way out of the Leeds studio, the businesswoman was spotted being given a thumbs-up by none other than George Osborne.

And what’s this? It turns out Ms Shuttleworth set up her Savvy Marketing Yorkshire company with… the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough in the last parliament.

MORE ELECTION HEADLINES

So, was the BBC fooled? The businesswoman herself said no, insisting she was not a Tory plant because she is not a Conservative supporter. Yes, she gave the Chancellor a thumbs up, but that was because he praised her as “a fiesty woman”. The businesswoman added: “I’m a strong-minded Yorkshire woman. No one tells me what to do.”

So, dirty tricks – or Mr Miliband rightly put on the spot on an important issue? You decide.

Is David Cameron planning something nasty for child benefit? Another key question yesterday, after the prime minister ducked and dived on the controversy on Thursday night.

Well, he continued to wriggle early today, praising it as a “vital benefit” – but still leaving the door open to changes that mum and dad will not like.

Then, finally, ITV nailed him. Under intolerable pressure, Mr Cameron ruled out means-testing” and – asked if child benefit would survive “in the current form for the next five years” – replied yes.

No wriggle room now, surely? Which is bad news for Labour – who wanted their attack to run through to polling day.

It’s also a severe headache for Tory strategists who still have to find a further £10.7bn of welfare cuts.

Gaffe of the Day: There’s only one contender… David Cameron, who said: “This is a real career-defining [embarrassing pause] country-defining election that we face now in less than a week's time.”

A gift for critics who taunt the prime minister for an alleged lack of passion and solid ideology.

Good Stunt of the Day: The Green Party members who set up a food bank outside the sprawling home of Iain Duncan Smith – the Work and Pensions Secretary whose benefit sanctions are blamed for their growth.

Bad Stunt of the Day: The young man who dropped his trousers in front of Nick Clegg… who walked on with a disdainful glare.