Northern Ireland's controversial Welfare Reform Bill has failed to pass at Stormont.

A majority of 58 assembly members voted in favour and 39 voted against.

However, the bill failed to pass because the nationalist Sinn Féin and the SDLP put forward a petition of concern.

Allegra Stratton
Newsnight Political Editor

Image source, AP

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has not ruled out one day running to lead the Labour Party - but says he hopes a vacancy does not arise.

Mr Umunna, who is backing Liz Kendall to replace Ed Miliband, said he had withdrawn from the contest because his "heart wasn't in it".

He previously cited the "pressure and scrutiny" that came with the role.

The Streatham MP told BBC Newsnight there were "no skeletons", adding: "I have absolutely nothing to hide."

Full story here.

Here's a summary of today's main political stories:

- Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has attacked the "speed and scale" of cuts planned by the UK government

- Labour leadership contender Liz Kendall has secured the backing of five senior shadow cabinet ministers, including shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna

-David Cameron has told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that "British people are not happy with the status quo" in the EU, during talks on Britain's future in the 28-member bloc

- Legislation to help more housing association tenants in England to buy their homes at a discounted price will be included in tomorrow's Queen's Speech, the government said

- Ex-Lib Dem MP Sir Malcolm Bruce claimed politicians tell "brazen lies", as he defended the actions of ex-Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael over a leaked memo

- Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has criticised calls for an early EU referendum, saying those making the calls have "ulterior motives"

- Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson remains in hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack. 

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Labour MP Ian Austin seems to have got himself into a bit of trouble on Twitter this afternoon, after tweeting that the black cab demonstration in central London had held up his journey from Victoria to Westminster by two and a half hours.

Here's his original tweet: 

And here are some of the many comments that followed:

Perhaps the Dudley North MP was not expecting the response that followed - and quickly sought to iron out the situation, by explaining:

The Daily Telegraph

Sir Malcom Bruce's comments that politicians tell "brazen lies" has provoked much reaction and criticism today. But the Telegraph's Julia Hartley-Brewer says the "outrage" over his remarks is "absurd".

There will be more rolling live political coverage tomorrow, a day likely to be dominated by the Queen's Speech. The event, which marks the formal opening of the new Parliament, is one of the highlights of the parliamentary calendar, full of both pageantry and political significance.

The Independent

Image source, PA

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper - one of the contenders for the job of Labour leader - has called for a revolution in childcare. In an article for the Independent, external, she says Labour needs to radically change the way Britain supports families by offering free childcare for all.

She calls for a Scandinavian-style system of universal childcare, with 30 hours of free care for all pre-school youngsters over the age of two. Ms Cooper also says there should be a new system of tax credits to cover the period after a mother finishes maternity leave.

Image source, Reuters

Just as David Cameron’s European charm offensive was warming up this week, two of the continent’s leading left-wing newspapers were quick to douse him in cold water. “Le ‘no thanks’ de Merkel et Hollande à Cameron” shouted Le Monde , as the Guardian splashed on the same story: a leaked agreement between the French and German leaders to pursue tighter political union in the Eurozone without treaty change.

This, they suggested, would make sore reading for the Conservatives, since treaty change has long been something that the prime minister has suggested he would like to see. And yet, most of the detail of this leaked memo seems simply to confirm what we already know.

More here (see Newsnight post 15.36)

Marc Williams
Newsnight Election Producer

Much of the focus on the Queen's Speech tomorrow will be on whether, on issues such as Conservative plans to replace the Human Rights Act, the Tory whips will be able to preserve their slender Commons majority. The Times today also reports on how party managers might soft pedal on their manifesto commitment to reduce the number of MPs to 600 because of fears of a backlash from those MPs who face losing their seat in the changes.

Some of the focus, however, has rested upon how the situation in the House of Lords will evolve given that non-Conservative parties have a sizeable majority. The Tories only have 224 out of the 780 peers. It's at this point that the Salisbury-Addison Convention and the Parliament Acts come into play. 

Read more from Newsnight here (post 11.36)

Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to visit Brussels next week to set out the Scottish government's opposition to the UK leaving the EU. Prime Minister David Cameron has committed to holding an in/out referendum on Britain's membership by 2017 at the latest.

Ms Sturgeon said the SNP did not think a referendum was "desirable" but as the vote was "inevitable" the party would "work to protect Scotland's interests".

She has said the SNP will propose a "double majority", meaning that Britain could only withdraw from the 28-member bloc if all four nations in the UK agreed to it. 

House of Commons
Parliament

After four days of "swearing in" of MPs in the House of Commons, the process has finally come to an end. MPs won't be back in the chamber until tomorrow morning, when the new Parliament is officially opened by the Queen.

Image source, Getty Images

Every housing association home sold under the right to buy scheme will be replaced with a new property, Communities Minister Greg Clark has promised. Some 1.3m housing association tenants in England are to get the right-to-buy their properties (the right to buy is being phased out in Scotland), under the government's plans.

Mr Clark said the bill, to be included in tomorrow's Queen's Speech, would allow people to fulfil their home-owning aspirations. But critics say it will make the housing crisis worse.

More here.

Image source, Getty Images

A member of the public has complained to the police about the conduct of the former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael. The BBC understands the complaint was made in person at a police station in Wishaw, Lanarkshire - not in Mr Carmichael's constituency in Orkney and Shetland where protests were held over the weekend.

Mr Carmichael is facing calls to resign after admitting he backed the leaking of a memo during the election campaign incorrectly suggesting Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron as prime minister. It is not known what offence, if any, Mr Carmichael is alleged to have committed.

Some more reaction to Lib Dem Sir Malcolm Bruce's comments  - in defence of Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael - that politicians tell "brazen lies". James Cleverly, the new Conservative MP for Braintree, said Sir Malcolm was "completely wrong" and if he wanted to help Mr Carmichael, "he should stop talking".

Meanwhile, Labour's John Mann said Mr Bruce's comments were surprising for someone who once chaired a Commons select committee.

The Bassetlaw MP said Mr Carmichael's case demonstrated the need for voter-initiated recall of elected MPs rather than the system implemented before the election, which requires the process to be triggered by Parliament.

Dennis Skinner - who's been having a bit of a territorial skirmish with SNP MPs about where to sit - is in his usual seat as MPs, including Boris Johnson, queue to swear in to the House of Commons.

In Westminster, the House of Commons is continuing its process of swearing in MPs - new and old. Its an age-old ritual that is necessary in order for members to formally take their seat in the House. The process has lasted several days already, but this afternoon sees the final group of MPs take the oath or affirmation.

BBC Radio 4

Labour is not going to win over voters by having a "Rubik's Cube approach" to politics, leadership contender Mary Creagh says. Asked how she would appeal to those Labour voters who went to UKIP, those who went to the Tories and those who went to the SNP, Ms Creagh told Woman's Hour:

The Spectator

Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper is to give a "big policy-rich speech" this week,writes Isabel Hardman, external- who adds it will be an attempt to counter the charge that "no-one really knows what she stands for". The shadow home secretary's campaign has been "phenomenally well-organised" so far, she says.