The Daily Mail

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK is the first since 2005, and the government has hailed a "golden era" in ties between the two countries.

But David Cameron's former strategy adviser Steve Hilton isn't too impressed by the government's approach. Writing in the Daily Mail, he warns, external that  "by embracing the Chinese dictatorship, we bring national and moral dishonour".

Rather than "rolling out the red carpet" Britain should stand up to the "dangerous rogue state", he argues, citing its poor human rights record.

Mr Hilton argues that Britain should instead look to India, "a genuine democracy", as a "more fruitful", long-term partner to "promote progress and prosperity".

The Daily Politics

A collection of mayors is called a "magnificence" and 30 of them have been meeting in a London hotel. 

Daily Politics reporter Adam Fleming caught up with some at the summit, including New York's former mayor Michael Bloomberg who is being urged to run for US president. 

They went on a tour of London's Crossrail site at Canary Wharf, which brought home the relative powers of UK and US mayors.  

Image source, Getty Images

There's been more bad news for steel workers today with Tata Steel announcing nearly 1,200 job losses at its plants in Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire.

Nine hundred jobs will go at the firm's plant in Scunthorpe. The remaining 270 jobs will go in Scotland.

They are the latest in a series of job losses across the UK steel sector, following news that administrators have been appointed to parts of Caparo Industries' steel operations.

The industry blames cheap Chinese imports for a collapse in steel prices. The issue will be debated by MPs in an urgent question from 12:30.

More here.

Commenting on changes to tax credits as he departed from today's Cabinet meeting, Boris Johnson said the reforms proposed by the government were "absolutely necessary", adding that "you've got to get people out of a system that is extremely cumbersome".

Image source, Reuters

After nearly ten years of Conservative rule the Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau have won Canada's election by a landslide - coming back from their worst ever election defeat in 2011.

Trudeau is the son of late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the man who made both English and French official languages in Canada.

The Liberals have become the first party ever to move from third place in parliament to a majority in one election.

The incumbent Conservative leader will stand down from Conservative leadership.

House of Commons
Parliament

Business in the House of Commons kicks off with questions to ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. That'll be followed by an urgent question - tabled by Labour - on the steel industry.

The main business is dedicated to a debate on tax credits - but not before a statement on Northern Ireland paramilitary groups and the proposing of a bill on the rights and entitlements of victims of crime, by Labour MP Keir Starmer.

Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, will close the day's business with a half-hour debate on regulation of cosmetic surgery.

Victoria Derbyshire

Later today MPs will debate government plans to cut tax credits. BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith says there's real disquiet in the Conservative party over the changes, but he doesn't think there's a likelihood of a government defeat in the vote.

There is, however, "a real chance" of a defeat if and when the policy is debated next week in the House of Lords - where the government doesn't have a majority, he adds.

Michael Buchanan
Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC News

Following on from those civil partnership figures reported earlier (see 09:50 entry), stats published by the Office for National Statistics show that at least 15,000 gay marriages  in the 15 months following their introduction in England and Wales.

There were more than 7,300 marriages between 29 March 2014 and end of June 2015, while 7,732 converted to a marriage from a civil partnership.

A majority of new marriages (55%) were between female couples; conversions were roughly equal.

The man behind a successful UK popcorn company explains why China is crucial for his business.

Asked on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour whether any prominent female politicians have been in touch, Sophie Walker says the party has had some "good, mainly back-channel conversations" - but won't say who with.

So are there any defections on the horizon? "I couldn't comment on that right now," she replies. But she predicts the party will "have a big impact right across all of the political parties", saying there are many politicians who feel "very frustrated with the pace of change towards gender equality in this country".

The Women's Equality Party was set up by broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and journalist Catherine Mayer earlier this year.

Leader Sophie Walker tells BBC radio 4's Woman's Hour it is funded by its membership, as well as some individual donations "but nothing on the scale" of the main parties.

She says the party would look "very carefully" at the core values of any potential big donor, to ensure they chimed with the party's.

The Women's Equality Party claims British men earn £245bn more than British women every year. Asked how it arrived at that figure, leader Sophie Walker says it's a combination of the annual survey of hours and earnings and the Labour Force survey.

"It's very revealing," she adds - claiming there is a "huge discrepancy" between men and women. She adds that the party will be announcing a "radicalisation" of childcare to help women to return to work if they want to.

Sophie Walker, Women's Equality Party leader, says candidates standing for election will campaign for its policies. But they'll have "free rein" to speak their mind about any other areas of policy, she adds.

Ms Walker says people are "tired of tribal politics" and want to be part of something from grassroots up. The policies to be announced this morning, she adds, have been put together by the party membership, she adds.

The UK's first feminist political party is launching its policy platform today at its first party conference. The Women's Equality Party says it has six core objectives, including equal representation, equal pay, equal parenting and an end to violence against women.

Leader Sophie Walker says it is the first non-partisan political party, meaning people from any political background are welcome. Its core values are "diversity and inclusivity", she adds, and says the party will be standing candidates in next year's elections, and will look to contest any by-elections.

Ms Walker says the party will announce "practical and pragmatic" policies which can achieve "real change".

Image source, Getty Images

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is travelling to the Middle East today to meet Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas in an attempt to calm ongoing conflicts.

He will be accompanied by the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, who said:

Michael Buchanan
Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC News

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

The number of civil partnership formed in England and Wales has fallen dramatically since the introduction of gay marriage, according to official statistics published this morning.

Civil partnerships are down 70% between 2013 and 2014, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

While there were 5,646 civil partnerships in 2013, there were only 1,683 in 2014. 

Same sex marriages were introduced in England and Wales in March 2014.

The number of civil partnerships dissolved in 2013 was up nearly 9%, to 1,061.