Irish president to meet PM Cameron

Mr Higgins was the guest of honour at the Windsor Castle banquet

Irish President Michael D Higgins will have a private lunch with Prime Minister David Cameron on the second day of his state visit to the UK.

Mr Higgins will also view the colours of the disbanded Irish regiments at Windsor Castle.

His schedule of engagements is due to conclude with a banquet at the Guildhall in London.

On Tuesday, Mr Higgins addressed both Houses of Parliament and attended a state banquet hosted by the Queen.

The Windsor Castle banquet on Tuesday night was also attended by Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

The former IRA leader joined in a toast to the Queen, having told BBC Two's Newsnight that he would "observe all the protocols and civilities".

Mr McGuinness had previously shaken hands with the Queen during her 2012 visit to Northern Ireland.

Mr Higgins' visit is the first state visit to the UK by an Irish head of state.

His four-day trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago.

Martin McGuinness attended the state banquet at Windsor Castle

During his speech in the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Higgins spoke of his country's "deep and enduring" friendship with Britain.

He said both countries could take "immense pride" in their work towards peace in Northern Ireland.

Mr Higgins spoke of the "pain and sacrifice" associated with Irish independence from the UK in 1922, which he said had cast a "long shadow across our relations".

"We acknowledge that past but, even more, we wholeheartedly welcome the considerable achievement of today's reality - the mutual respect, friendship and co-operation which exists between our two countries," he said.

Mr Higgins' first engagement on Wednesday is viewing the colours of the disbanded Irish regiments alongside the Duke of York, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment.

After his Downing Street meeting with Mr Cameron he is due to meet Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Buckingham Palace.

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Published on: 10:23 PM

Cameron faces questions over Miller

Maria Miller has faced heavy criticism over her approach to a probe into her expenses claims

David Cameron is set to face MPs' questions about Culture Secretary Maria Miller amid a row over her expenses.

Mr Cameron will attend Prime Minister's Questions at noon on Wednesday before a meeting of the influential Tory 1922 Committee of backbenchers hours later.

Mrs Miller has been criticised over her expenses claims and the 32-second apology she made to MPs last week.

Leader of the Commons, Andrew Lansley, defended Mrs Miller, saying she had "made the apology that was asked for".

'Let you down'

Mrs Miller issued another apology in a column in a local newspaper in her constituency for the way she the way she approached parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Hudson's investigation into her accommodation expenses.

She wrote in the Basingstoke Gazette: "I have unreservedly apologised for the way I handled and approached the inquiry. I am devastated that this has happened, and that I have let you down."

Mr Lansley said Mrs Miller's apology for her behaviour towards the Standards Committee was agreed with the Commons speaker and it would not have been appropriate to have elaborated.

Andrew Lansley: "[Maria Miller] made the apology that was asked for"

He told the BBC's Newsnight he "hoped" his Conservative colleague would keep her job.

Former Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd said it should be a "matter of honour" for Mrs Miller to resign.

Lady Boothroyd said: "She is bringing Parliament into disrepute. I think the vast majority of people in this country, if they were asked, would have the same feelings that I have."

BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said after the two forums on Wednesday, the Easter recess would be just a day away with at least the potential of some respite for the culture secretary.

The question now was for how long, with a reshuffle expected after the local and European Parliament elections next month, he added.

Damaging distraction

Mrs Miller was cleared of funding a home for her parents at taxpayers' expense, the central charge against her, following an investigation by the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards.

But the watchdog criticised her "attitude" to the inquiry and recommended she repay £45,000, the amount it believed she had overclaimed in expenses.

Baroness Boothroyd: "I'm very disappointed, in fact I'm rather outraged about it"

The Commons Standards Committee, which has the final say on disciplinary matters, disagreed and decided she had overclaimed by £5,800 and should repay this amount.

This decision sparked a backlash across the political spectrum and calls for changes in how complaints against MPs are investigated.

Mr Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson are among those to have backed Mrs Miller while the minister's parliamentary aide, Mary Macleod, accused the media of a "witch hunt" against her.

Several Tory MPs have expressed concerns that the saga is proving a damaging distraction as they campaign for local council and European Parliament elections next month.

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Published on: 9:22 PM