As the day draws to a close, here's a look at some of the main stories of the day:

- Border security is being stepped up in northern France and Dover after migrants sought to exploit ferry strike action in Calais, the government has said

-  In his first speech as justice secretary,  Michael Gove called for an overhaul of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, saying the "creaking and outdated" system is failing society's poorest

- England's former chief inspector of schools   Sir Chris Woodhead  has died, aged 68. He had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2006.

 - Norman Lamb  has apologised  to Lib Dem leadership rival Tim Farron over the conduct of two of his aides in a row over private polling

- Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is to bid to be the next Conservative mayor of London,  after receiving the overwhelming backing  of his constituents to join the race

- Scotland's independence referendum was well run and offered a template for future votes like the EU referendum,  according to the Electoral Commission  , which oversees UK elections

- Labour peer and ex-MEP Baroness Morgan of Ely has announced she hopes to stand as a Labour candidate at the 2016 Welsh Assembly election

And finally,  a government minister has apologised  after inadvertently insulting Welsh members of the House of Lords by using the term "welching".

Labour is to launch a concerted campaign to rebuild relations with business following its resounding election defeat. The party will tour the country speaking to UK businesses as part of a new initiative launching tomorrow.

Labour faced accusations of being "anti-business" under Ed Miliband's leadership, and Yvette Cooper - who is vying to be his successor - has said it alienated business with rhetoric that appeared to "knock down" wealth creators.

Ahead of the launch, shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said Labour wanted to be "partners and not opponents" of business.

And the shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, said that while "a large number of policies... won support from the business community" the "overall tone and cumulative effect of Labour’s offer didn’t win favour" with voters.  

Image source, Reuters

Suzanne Evans has said she "certainly wouldn't rule out" standing as UKIP's candidate for Mayor of London.

Leader Nigel Farage told LBC he had discussed the post with Ms Evans.

She confirmed she had spoken to Mr Farage but said no decision had been made and other people "may like to throw their hat in the ring".

Last week a leaked UKIP email appeared to suggest Ms Evans had been sacked as a party spokesperson after she told BBC 2's Daily Politics programme that Mr Farage was perceived as "very divisive".

However, the party later denied she had been sacked and said the email seen by the BBC "was issued without proper authority."

Boris Johnson has been fielding questions from the public in his final appearance at the annual State of London debate. He steps down as London Mayor next year.

Asked about airport expansion, Mr Johnson said he expected Sir Howard Davies' commission into airport capacity to report "fairly soon, in the next few weeks".

He said if the report recommended a third runway at Heathrow it would lead to "paralysis". What if David Cameron backed this option? He would "counsel" the PM "very strongly" against it, Mr Johnson replies.

The MP said the Conservatives pledged in their 2010 election manifesto not to expand Heathrow, adding: "I think that the government will stick to that."

Lewis Goodall
Newsnight producer

Michael Gove is presenting himself as the defender of England and Wales' poor in his new incarnation as justice secretary. Today in a speech he has warned that the "creaking and outdated" justice system is letting down the poor most and that efficiencies and more modern practice of work is urgently required.

This may well be true. But it's worth bearing in mind just how substantial the transformation in the primary vehicle of providing the poor with access to the justice system has been since 2010.

More here.

Border security is being stepped up in northern France and Dover as hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound vehicles in Calais amid the chaos.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire has told the BBC it was “hugely regrettable that we’ve seen these incidents occurring as a result of industrial action in France”.

But Mr Brokenshire added that it was "ultimately" for the French authorities to "assure security and safety in France".

He said there had been “ongoing contact” between the British embassy in France and the French government, adding: “They are deploying additional policing. We will continue to remain in contact with them."

A look at today's main political developments:

- In his first speech as justice secretary, Michael Gove has called for an overhaul of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, saying the "creaking and outdated" system is failing society's poorest

- England's former chief inspector of schools  Sir Chris Woodhead  has died, aged 68. He had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2006.

 - Norman Lamb has apologised to Lib Dem leadership rival Tim Farron over the conduct of two of his aides in a row over private polling

- Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith is to bid to be the next Conservative mayor of London, after receiving the overwhelming backing of his constituents to join the race

- Scotland's independence referendum was well run and offered a template for future votes like the EU referendum, according to the Electoral Commission , which oversees UK elections

And finally, a government minister has apologised after inadvertently insulting Welsh members of the House of Lords by using the term "welching".

Dominic Cummings, a former adviser to Michael Gove who has been linked to the embryonic No campaign to take the UK out of the EU, has been musing on his blog , external on whether there should be a second referendum in the event of a No vote. He suggests the enormity of the issues involved in extricating the UK from the EU mean the public should have a further say on the practical terms of exit as a "matter of democratic accountability". He also argues that the move could benefit the No campaign as it could make a No vote "seem much less risky". While he believes a Yes vote would mean the public did not have another say on the issue for "40 years", a No vote would mean "a new government could "negotiate a new deal" that would have to be put to the public, which may appeal to those uncertain about what leaving the EU may mean. There have been precedents for second referendums in Europe, he adds, going on to say Labour should suggest the idea to the government. 

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The deputy mayor of Calais has blamed the UK for the migrant surge - and said the British government should be doing more to address the problem.

But Craig Mackinlay, Conservative MP for South Thanet, disagrees. "I'm afraid the problem actually lies elsewhere, and that's at the heart of the ports in Libya where this trafficking is actually starting," he tells the BBC.

He says the government is "doing our bit" to stabilise such countries, but notes that the migrants have passed through many European countries, and insists: "It is not our problem."

House of Lords
Parliament

A Liberal Democrat attempt in the House of Lords to hold up government plans for a blanket ban on so-called legal highs has failed.

An amendment to the Psychoactive Substances Bill that would have stopped it coming into effect until after a wider review of drugs policy had been published was defeated by 316 votes to 98, giving the government a majority of 218.

Former Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Lord Paddick argued the ban would "cost more lives" than a delay.

But his move was opposed by the government and Labour.

Home Office minister Lord Bates argued a blanket ban was needed as "the minute we clamp down on one up pops another two or three or 10".

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Moving on, Keith Vaz is asked about the three Bradford sisters thought to be in Syria with their nine children.

The Labour MP - who met West Yorkshire Police today - says the information given to him at the meeting is confidential, but he does say that the police "categorically deny the suggestion they have been involved in grooming or radicalising these three women".

He adds that there were "voluntary attempts to deal with a relative already in Syria", thought to be the brother of the three women.

Mr Vaz says there needs to be a meeting between the entire family and a senior officer of West Yorkshire Police so they can "clear the lines of communication" and concentrate on getting the women and children back to the UK.

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Keith Vaz tells the BBC that all eyes are on Greece at the moment, but he warns that the "migration crisis" is the "biggest crisis" facing Europe - not the threat of Greece leaving the euro.

BBC News Channel