International Men's Day will be marked for the first time in a debate in the House of Commons.

Philip Davies, who has called the debate, hopes it could become an annual tradition in the parliamentary calendar.

The Conservative MP rejected the suggestion his debate was a "stunt", insisting it was only fair International Men's Day be given the same attention as International Women's Day.

Thursday's debate will cover issues including suicide rates and educational under-achievement among young men, Davies said.

He said: "We have had a debate for many years on International Women's Day in the main chamber to coincide with that.

"So people thought it was only right that we have the debate to consider the issues around International Men's Day in the chamber as well, to give it the same kind of prominence."

Davies secured a debate on the awareness day last year but it was assigned to Westminster Hall, the spillover room for parliamentary business, rather than the Commons chamber.

The 2015 event provoked controversy among some women MPs.

Labour's Jess Phillips, the only female member of the backbench business committee which allocates some parliamentary debates, hit out at the suggestion, saying: "It seems like every day to me is International Men's Day".

Davies said the debate is far less controversial this year.

He said: "I know some people have been very disparaging about this, saying every day is International Men's Day and all the rest of it, but there is a big difference between men raising issues and the raising of men's issues.

"And yes, men raise lots of issues in parliament, but not very often are men's issues raised in Parliament.

"Last year when I was asking for this debate for the first time, we had a bit of push back and it was much more controversial.

"It was more controversial last year, this year it seems to be much more accepted that there are legitimate areas where men are suffering."

He claimed the debate is "not men versus women" but a serious attempt to discuss issues that adversely affect men.

Davies added: "This is not a stunt at all. In many respects I would prefer that neither were necessary and I would rather the issues were mainstream and you didn't have to have an International Men's Day to raise men's issue or an International Women's Day to raise women's issues.

"But given that these issues don't often get discussed, it is just a useful way to highlight some of these issues."