Cllr Laurence Lavigne Lalonde explained to the city’s executive committee meeting that the crucifix would be removed before scheduled renovation work at City Hall.

However, Lalonde said it would not be put back in the chamber when City Hall reopens.

“I think we can agree the context has changed today,” Lalonde said, noting that the crucifix was put on display above the main door of the council chamber in 1937 to remind councillors of the oath before God that they took.

Successive governments have rejected requests to remove the Christian symbol.

Last October, the Coalition government argued the crucifix was an important part of Quebec’s heritage.

The debate comes as the government moves to impose strict religious neutrality rules on state employees in positions of authority.

If passed, workers such as teachers, judges and police officers would be forbidden from wearing visible religious symbols.

“The City of Montreal has the power to take down the crucifix,” Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette told local reporters on Wednesday in Quebec City.

“The national assembly has always decided to maintain it, and that’s the position of the government, because it’s a patrimonial symbol.”

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The item was described in the online listing as being a 4.5-inch “mini bible” signed by the president at a rally in 2016, which would have been before his inauguration.

 Justin Steffman, the CEO and lead authenticator of AutographCOA.com, examined photos of the Bible and its signature and told NBC News that the autograph was counterfeit.

 “I have taken a close look and compared the book to our authentic exemplar database,” Steffman said by email.

“The signature on the Bible definitely does not appear to be an authentic signature from President Trump. The odds of it being real are zero per cent in my opinion.”

 His opinion was backed by two authenticators from the firm PSA/DNA, Kevin Keating and Tom Poon, who separately came to the same conclusion.

 “Both of them came back almost immediately with thumbs down,” said Terry Melia, spokesman for the company.

 Melia added: “The percentage of fake autographs being sold on eBay — ones that do not already include third-party authentication behind them — is easily 50 per cent or more.”

 A certificate of authenticity was provided with the Bible that had allegedly been signed by Mr Trump.

 The seller has responded to NBC News’ questions about the eBay listing: “Do not contact me again or I will contact my lawyer and get you for harassment.”

 Ryan Moore, an eBay spokesman, said by email, “Our policies require that…

In the twelve months to September 2018, 46 per cent of such offences recorded by Greater Manchester Police were shut with no suspect in the frame, while West Midlands Police closed 44 per cent.

Other forces closed around a third, including British Transport Police (37 per cent), Northumbria (33 per cent) and Sussex (31 per cent).

The offences – all of which are defined as hate crimes – include racially or religiously aggravated assault, harassment and criminal damage.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission described the figures as “disappointing”, adding that victims of these offences often don’t report what has happened to them “as they feel that the police won’t take the incident seriously or have the power to act”.

Independent charity Victim Support warned the figures could undermine public confidence in the ability of the justice system to report hate crime.

Greater Manchester Police acknowledged it had “a lot of work to do” to ensure hate crimes were dealt with “in the best ways that we can”, while West Midlands Police said it was determined to follow “all active lines of inquiry to trace suspects”.

The analysis has been compiled by the Press Association based on data published by the Home Office. It reveals that:

– A total of 28% of all racially and religiously-aggravated offences recorded in England and Wales…

Nathan Stevens who describes himself as an Immigration case worker has posted excerpts from the Home Office letter on twitter.

It contains quotes from Leviticus, Matthew, Exodus and Revelation.

It’s alleged the asylum seeker had described Christianity as a religion of peace in contrast to Islam as a religion of violence and so the letter contains Biblical extracts randomly quoted to demonstrate that the Christian Bible contains examples of violence.

Nathan Stevens describes himself on Twitter as: “genuinely shocked to read this unbelievably offensive diatribe being used to justify a refusal of asylum.”

Excerpt from a home office reasons for refusal letter for a convert to Christianity. I’ve seen a lot over the years, but even I was genuinely shocked to read this unbelievably offensive diatribe being used to justify a refusal of asylum. pic.twitter.com/R1wA1HMNwH

— Nathan Stevens (@nathestevens) March 19, 2019

A Home Office spokesperson said:

“This letter is not in accordance with our policy approach to claims based on religious persecution, including conversions to a particular faith.

“We continue to work closely with key partners, including the APPG on International Freedom of Religion and a range of faith groups, to improve our policy guidance and training provided to asylum decision-makers so that we approach claims involving religious conversion in the…

The Rt Rev Peter Forster, argued the £55.7 billion scheme was “unnecessarily expensive” during a debate in the House of Lords on the Chancellor’s recent Spring Statement.

Bishop Peter told peers: “If you want to find good things to tax, I always say start with sin. Find a new sin and tax it.

“I rather agree that HS2 is a sin.

“Not for having capacity, which I am all in favour of, but in doing it in such an unnecessarily expensive way.

“Trains go quite fast enough for me as they are.

“It could have been done far more cheaply.”

Former Treasury chief Lord Macpherson of Earl’s Court backed his comments.

The independent crossbencher, who was permanent secretary at the Treasury for eleven years, said: “Public investment needs to be focused on projects which yield the highest return.

“That probably means more expenditure on roads and I know I am in a minority but it also suggests that we should cancel HS2.”

Meanwhile, a new report from the New Economics Foundation has found that 40 per cent of the benefits of the HS2 project would go to London and that the £56bn budget would be better spent on upgrading the existing network and smaller-scale local projects.

Bishop Peter also called for the government to do more to help tackle the “chronic lack” of low-cost and social housing.

He said: “As I look at the housing issues, it just seems to me there is something missing in the…