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Michael Gove says he is inclined to “exercise Christian forgiveness” when it comes to alleged remarks a Tory donor made about former Labour MP Diane Abbott.

Earlier this week, the Guardian reported that businessman Frank Hester told his staff Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and “should be shot”.

The comments about the MP have been deemed “racist and wrong” by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as opposition politicians.

But while the businessman said he was “deeply sorry” for the words, he insisted they were “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.

Politics live:
Gove defends new extremism plan amid free speech fears

Speaking to Sky News’ Wilfred Frost, Mr Gove, the communities secretary, said Mr Hester had made “a genuine apology”, and he believed he had “shown real contrition” over the alleged remarks.

“It’s important to recognise… the government that we have is the most diverse in the Western world, and Mr Hester was giving money in order to support a British Asian prime minister, so I think it is important to put that in context,” he said.

“But again, it’s right that Mr Hester should be called out for his words and it is also right that he should apologise. I understand that he has and shown full contrition.”

Pushed by Wilfred Frost on whether the apology could be genuine if the Tory donor did not accept the alleged comments were racist and misogynistic, Mr Gove said: “I think that when someone says they are sorry – and I understand he’s deeply sorry for these remarks – then my natural inclination is to exercise Christian forgiveness.”

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UK tax authority doubles crypto warning letters in crackdown on unpaid gains

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UK tax authority doubles crypto warning letters in crackdown on unpaid gains

UK tax authority doubles crypto warning letters in crackdown on unpaid gains

HMRC sent nearly 65,000 warning letters to crypto investors last year, more than double the previous year, as the UK steps up efforts to trace undeclared capital gains.

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‘Additional resources’ offered by govt to reverse ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa game

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'Additional resources' offered by govt to reverse ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa game

The government says it is exploring what “additional resources and support are required” to allow “all fans” to attend Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match against Aston Villa next month.

Supporters of the Israeli side have been told they are not allowed to attend November’s game in Birmingham after a decision by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG).

The group – made up of local stakeholders, including representatives from the council, police and event organisers – said the decision was due to a high risk of violence based on “current intelligence and previous incidents”.

Politics live: MPs react to Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban

The decision has been criticised across the political spectrum, with Sir Keir Starmer describing it as a “wrong decision” while Tory opposition leader Kemi Badenoch called it a “national disgrace”.

In a statement on Friday night, a government spokesperson said: “No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are.

“The government is working with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present.

“We are exploring what additional resources and support are required so all fans can attend.”

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Birmingham residents react to the Maccabi fan ban

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Antisemitism is a stain on our society that shames us all. Every football fan, whoever they are, should be able to watch their team in safety.

“This government is doing everything in our power to ensure all fans can safely attend the game.”

The prime minister’s spokesman previously said Sir Keir would “do everything in his power to give Jewish communities the security they deserve”.

Read more:
Why are fans banned – and has this happened before?
How this raises questions about one of the UK’s biggest cities

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Badenoch: Fan ban a ‘national disgrace’

The Home Office offered to provide more police for the event, while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Communities Secretary Steve Reed also intervened.

However, senior police insisted the ban was necessary and cited clashes and hate crime offences committed when the Israeli team travelled to Amsterdam to play Ajax last year.

The Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match – set to take place on Thursday 6 November – is a Europa League fixture.

UEFA, which runs the tournament, had urged UK authorities to ensure away fans could attend.

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Ondo Finance to SEC: Hold off on Nasdaq’s tokenized securities plan

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Ondo Finance to SEC: Hold off on Nasdaq’s tokenized securities plan

Ondo Finance to SEC: Hold off on Nasdaq’s tokenized securities plan

In a letter to the US regulator, Ondo argued that Nasdaq’s plan relies on undisclosed settlement details that could favor big players.

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