MPS return to Westminster today (Monday), but the General Election campaign is already well underway.

The Tories fired the first shot on Friday with a pitch to voters that only they can be trusted with the economy.

Yesterday Labour replied with a warning that the NHS would not survive another five years of Tory government.

Labour is determined to talk about the health service, while the Tories want to debate the economy.

So far, so ho-hum.

With five months to go, the two largest parties are already serving up more of the same to an electorate desperate for something different.

As we said on Saturday, the Conservative offer of "gradual economic progress", underpinned by deeper cuts in public spending, is hardly a vote-winner, especially in areas like the North-East.

But Labour will have to do more than go on and on about the NHS between now and May 7 if it is to reach beyond its core vote.

The issue neither party wants to talk about - immigration - is the subject that will not go away. According to the polls, immigration is well ahead of both the economy and the NHS as a topic of concern on the nation's doorsteps.

People want to hear something new on immigration and, if the main parties cannot come up with a compelling offer, the major beneficiary will be Ukip. Simply promising to be tough on immigration is no longer enough, voters do not believe the rhetoric coming from mainstream politicians.

There is still everything to play for, millions of people will leave it to the last minute before deciding how to vote, but the two big parties just don't have it their own way anymore.

None of the economic arguments around immigration stand up to scrutiny but, so far, Nigel Farage has been given a free hand to deliver Ukip's argument. We hope that does not last. Someone needs to challenge the anti-immigration hysteria coming out of Ukip with the facts.

One thing is certain: more of the same just will not do.