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The levelling up agenda is “steaming ahead”, a government minister has insisted – despite being unable to say whether the HS2 rail link will go to Manchester as planned.

Policing minister Chris Philp said there were “spades in the ground” and “track being laid” for the rail line that will link London to the North in phases – but he said did not know “exactly what is or is not being considered”.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Philp said: “I’m a Home Office minister, so I’m afraid I don’t know about exactly what is or is not being considered. But I do know that work is ongoing as we speak to construct the line.”

JULY 26 Undated handout photo issued by HS2 Ltd of the 2,000-tonne massive tunnel boring machine (TBM) named 'Dorothy' completing its one-mile dig under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire.

Pressed on why he did not know the details as a member of the government, he said: “Well, I can tell you that work on the line is ongoing at the moment. It is being built and those trains are going to go very fast from London, going North as soon as the line is finished.”

Fresh doubts have been thrown over the future of HS2 after Downing Street refused to guarantee the high speed line will run to Manchester – amid reports that Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are considering scrapping the second stage.

The questions marks over Manchester have prompted anger from politicians – including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who said: “The southern half of England gets a modern rail system and the North left with Victorian infrastructure. Levelling up? My a***.”

Asked about Mr Burnham’s comments on Sky News this morning. Mr Philp said: “There is £3bn this year being invested in levelling up in the North.

More on Hs2

“There are new rail projects, more local rail projects being invested in the North.”

“The government is moving departments up into the North. So the levelling up agenda is steaming ahead.”

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HS2 delays to cost at least £266m

It comes after The Independent reported ministers were considering shelving the northern phase amid concerns about spiralling costs and severe delays.

The Independent said a cost estimate revealed that the government has already spent £2.3bn on stage two of the railway from Birmingham to Manchester, but that ditching the northern phase could save up to £34bn.

The newspaper said the documents were discussed at a meeting in Downing Street on Tuesday and suggested the £2.3bn was now not recoverable even if it is cancelled.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “I can’t comment on speculation around a leaked document. It is obviously standard process for departments to discuss the phasing of major projects like HS2 … but the work is already under way,” he said.

Asked whether the prime minister was committed to the line going to Manchester, the spokesman said: “We are committed to HS2, to the project.

“I can’t comment on the speculation that’s a result of a photograph. We are as you know looking at the rephasing of the work in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers.”

Read more:
HS2 explained: What is it and why are parts being delayed?

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HS2 unearths unexpected treasure

Signs that the leg to the northern city may be in trouble came when the DfT confirmed in March that work on the crucial leg between Birmingham and Crewe – which is then due to continue to Manchester – would have to be put on hold because of the impact of inflation.

It meant that services were not going to extend to Manchester until the 2040s.

Delivery of the high-speed railway has been a core pledge of the Conservative government, but it has been plagued by delays and ever-increasing costs.

The initial opening date of 2026 has fallen back to 2033, while cost estimates have spiralled from about £33bn in 2010 to £71bn in 2019 – excluding the final eastern leg from the West Midlands to the East Midlands.

It is not just the northern section of the project that has encountered trouble, as there are also doubts about the future of Euston station in London.

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Part of Birmingham ‘can’t be no-go area for Jews’, cabinet minister tells Sky News

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Part of Birmingham 'can't be no-go area for Jews', cabinet minister tells Sky News

Aston in Birmingham can’t become a “no-go area” for Jews, a senior cabinet minister has told Sky News, amid controversy over fans of an Israeli football club being barred from attending a match next month.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he “profoundly” disagrees with the “approach” taken by a local MP who started a petition calling for fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv to be banned from the Aston Villa game, saying it “cannot be the basis on which our country operates”.

But while he said the government is “working with the relevant authorities” to overturn the move, he can not guarantee it will happen.

Politics latest: Miliband ‘welcomes’ Jeremy Clarkson challenge

Villa Park. PA
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Villa Park. PA

Alongside politicians of all parties, Sir Keir Starmer has strongly criticised the decision, calling it “wrong”, and the government has said it will work with local authorities to ensure both sets of fans can attend.

Speaking to Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Miliband said work is still ongoing.

“We are working with the relevant authorities on this issue, he said. “I think the principle here is we do not want a situation where people of a particular faith or from a particular country can’t come to a football match because of their faith, because of where they’re coming from.”

Asked if Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will definitely be able to attend the game, the minister replied: “I’m not going to say come what may, but I’m giving you a very, very clear indication of what we are working towards, which is that, you know, the fans from both teams can attend the match.”

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Miliband on Israeli football fan ban

Phillips put to Mr Miliband that a petition to ban their fans, launched by local independent MP Ayoub Khan, has been signed by nearly 4,000 people. It states the upcoming game is “not a normal match” because the Israeli fans would be arriving in “Aston, a diverse and predominantly Muslim community”.

Asked if Aston is now a no-go area for Jews, Mr Miliband replied: “No and it can’t be. And I’m very, very clear about that.

“I believe we as a country, we pride ourselves on our diversity, but also our tolerance and our hatred of prejudice, frankly. And so we cannot have a situation where any area is a no-go area for people of a particular religion or from a particular country.”

Asked if the local MP was justified in what he wrote, Mr Miliband replied: “No. I profoundly disagree with that approach, with what is being said in that petition, because that cannot be the basis on which our country operates.”

This isn’t how the vast majority of people in the UK operate, he added. “So let’s not take this petition and say it paints a picture of our country.”

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Aston Villa fan says he has received death threats.

Top Tory criticises ‘sectarian politics’

His Tory counterpart, Claire Coutinho, was highly critical of the petition, telling Phillips: “I think politicians need to have the courage to name some of the problems that this country is facing. And one of those problems is political Islam.

“Now, that’s not to say the moderate Muslim community are a problem in Britain, but we have seen in the past extremist Islamism […] and now we are seeing a movement of people – last election, five MPs elected – simply on sectarian politics. That may be higher at the next election.

“So we have to grip this, and part of that is dealing with rising antisemitism. But part of that is dealing with integration.”

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Tory calls out ‘lack of integration’

The senior Tory MP described the ban overall as a “disgrace”, saying: “I think the message that is being sent to Jewish people in this country is that they’re not welcome here.

“This has always been a safe haven for Jewish people, and I think to say that we could not possibly police Israeli Jewish fans to watch a football match safely is reinforcing that message that Jews are not welcome here. And I think that is wrong.”

Match classified as ‘high risk’

In a statement on Thursday, Aston Villa said Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) – which issues safety certificates for every match at the ground – had “formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend” the fixture at Villa Park on 6 November, as it had been classified as “high risk”.

The club said police had advised of “public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night” – a statement that triggered outrage across the political spectrum.

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Will ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa be lifted?

The move has been condemned by political and Jewish leaders, including Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, who called it a “shameful decision”.

The Jewish Leadership Council said it was “perverse” to ban away fans because police can’t guarantee their safety, adding: “Aston Villa should face the consequences of this decision and the match should be played behind closed doors.”

Read more:
Why are Maccabi Tel Aviv fans banned?
Analysis: Ban raises serious questions

Sky News has contacted Mr Khan for a response to the comments made this morning.

Former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn defended his fellow member of the Independent Alliance group in parliament yesterday, writing on X: “Ayoub Khan has been subject to disgusting smears by MPs and journalists, who have wilfully misrepresented his views in order to stoke anger and division.”

He added that he and his colleagues “diligently represent people of all faiths and none in their communities”.

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Chinese tech giants halt Hong Kong stablecoin plans amid Beijing concerns: FT

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Chinese tech giants halt Hong Kong stablecoin plans amid Beijing concerns: FT

Chinese tech giants halt Hong Kong stablecoin plans amid Beijing concerns: FT

Ant Group and JD.com have paused their stablecoin initiatives in Hong Kong after Beijing regulators raised concerns over private firms issuing digital currencies.

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Japan’s FSA weighs allowing banks to hold Bitcoin, other cryptos: Report

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Japan’s FSA weighs allowing banks to hold Bitcoin, other cryptos: Report

Japan’s FSA weighs allowing banks to hold Bitcoin, other cryptos: Report

Japan’s Financial Services Agency is weighing reforms that could let banks hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and operate licensed crypto exchanges.

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