Sean Curran
Parliamentary correspondent

You can hear the arguments about tax credits at Prime Minister's Questions on Today in Parliament later tonight with Sean Curran. 

There's also a report on what action Home Secretary Theresa May is taking to stop migrants at Calais trying to enter the UK. 

A debate on A&E departments - initiated by Labour - turns into a "psychodrama" about the Labour leadership contest. 

And there's another batch of maiden speeches - an SNP MP reveals he only joined the party nine months ago, after the independence referendum. 

That's Today in Parliament at 23:00 on Radio 4. 

As ever on a Wednesday, it's been a frenetic day at Westminster. Here's a round-up of what's been happening.

Protesters tried to storm the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions in protest at cuts to disability benefit cuts  - but were stopped by officials

David Cameron says the UK will consider providing further security assistance at Calais amid what he says are "unacceptable" scenes of migrants trying to board lorries heading across the channel 

The prime minister clashes with Labour leader Harriet Harman over cuts to tax credits and budgetary discipline as he prepares to travel to Germany for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel over his EU plans

The way child poverty is measured is set to change , and a new system could be unveiled before the summer recess

Alan Milburn says Labour faces a "daunting" task if they are to win in 2020 and says the party can't "wonk" its way back into power .

After getting Paddy Ashdown's endorsement, Norman Lamb has also won the backing of Frank Bruno in his 12-round contest with Tim Farron for the Lib Dem leadership. In a tweet endorsing Mr Lamb, the former boxer has praised the Lib Dem MP's work during the last government to increase funding for mental health services and put them on the footing as physical health.

According to the Lib Dem voice website, external , six activists have applied to become the party's candidate in next year's London mayoral contest. They are: Duwayne Brooks, Brian Haley, Teena Lashmore, Caroline Pidgeon, Marisha Ray and Paul Reynolds. The website says a shortlist will be drawn up before party members in London get the chance to elect one of the candidates to represent them. 

The former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown has endorsed Norman Lamb as the next leader of the party.

In a tweet, Lord Ashdown wrote:

The BBC's Esther Webber understands there is no time frame for the work of the European Scrutiny Committee to resume.

Despite the opening weeks of this Parliament being dominated by all things European, the relevant committee must wait until its membership is agreed and the committee meets before a chairman is decided.

The European Scrutiny Committee – like many other Commons committees – is not elected by all MPs but by its members.

Conservative Sir Bill Cash, a prominent critic of the UK’s relationship with the EU, has been the chair since 2010.

He confirmed he will stand again for the chairmanship.

He told the BBC that after the last election in 2010, the committee did not meet until September, but he and other prospective members “are keen to meet and are trying to bring the process forward”.

The members are put forward by the different parties, but the Conservatives will have a majority on the committee as the party of government.The chairs of select committees elected by the whole House were announced last week.

Here are Iain Watson's thoughts on the prospects for a distinct English Labour Party, an initiative floated by Jon Cruddas in a speech earlier. 

He writes:

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

A schedule for the two-day European Council summit released in Brussels has revealed that the UK's demands for reform will not be discussed at either of the two planned working sessions, which will focus on migration, jobs, growth, competitiveness and security. Instead, over dinner on Thursday, the EU's 28 national leaders will have, in its words, "the opportunity to listen to David Cameron in regard to the upcoming referendum in United Kingdom and the reforms he is seeking".

Jon Cruddas has reportedly said that a distinct English Labour party could be set up, similarly to Scottish Labour and Welsh Labour, in the wake of the party's disappointing electoral performance in England. Labour List , external reported the former shadow cabinet member as telling a meeting hosted by the IPPR thinktank that "we are going to do it and it will be imminent". Mr Cruddas apparently then added that it was "perhaps not something I should have said". Asked later about his apparent slip of the tongue, Mr Cruddas said: "It’ll be pushed along over the next month. It seems to me it will end up being put in the rule book like Scottish and Welsh Labour". But a party source has told the website that this is not "in any way official". 

Following on from Alan Milburn, Jon Cruddas is the latest Labour figure to put the party's election defeat under the microscope at an event this lunchtime. Here is what Will Straw, one of the Labour candidates who failed to win a seat, thinks of what Mr Cruddas has been saying. 

Image source, PA

The TUC has written an "open letter" to the prime minister ahead of Thursday's European Council summit, where the UK's renegotiation and referendum plan for its EU membership will be formally discussed for the first time. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady has written: 

Image source, PA

"Amal Clooney came to PMQs and stole the show". That's Andrew Gimson's verdict in his sketch for Conservative Home, external, suggesting David Cameron and Harriet Harman were both relegated to supporting roles. 

Image source, BBC News

Traffic is backing up down Millbank in one direction and towards Parliament Square in the other as the Independent Living Fund protest continues at a crossing outside the House of Commons.

Police are trying to encourage them to move their protest off the road.

Jonathan Faull, one of the most senior British officials in the European Commission, has been given a new role as director-general of a task force "responsible for strategic issues related to the UK referendum".

Mr Faull, who will report directly to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, has worked in the Commission for more than 30 years and was until recently the director-general in charge of the Internal Market.

He’s previously been director-general for justice and home affairs and in the early 1990s he was a member of the cabinet of then European Commissioner Leon Brittan

The protest inside Parliament may have ended but disability campaigners have now blocked the road outside. Approximately 10 wheelchairs have taken position in the middle of road, directly outside of the Parliament buildings

Scotland Yard says the protest in the House of Commons is over. One person and their carer were ejected from the Palace of Westminster for disorderly behaviour, but no arrests were made, we are told.