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…

Speaking to BBC2’s Newsnight, Mr Blair, who switched from the Anglican church to Catholicism soon after leaving Downing Street, said: “You can be as religious as you like but the thing about praying to God is he doesn’t tell you what the level of minimum wage is.

“I don’t know what God’s view of Brexit is and I don’t think it’s a sensible enquiry to have.”

Mr Blair also rejected reports that he was plotting with French president Emmanuel Macron to force a new vote.

While the Labour member backs a second referendum that could see Britain stay in the EU, he denied telling European leaders to “hold firm” and pressure the Prime Minister into holding a new poll.

He asked: “How am I undermining it [Brexit]?

“I’m saying the country should come to a view in Parliament and if Parliament can’t make up its mind or decides it wants to – you put it back to the people.

“What I’m saying to people privately in Europe is what I’m saying publicly.”

He also called for a delay of nine to twelve months to give Parliament enough time to decide whether it wants a “soft Brexit, hard Brexit or no Brexit”, with or without a second referendum.

Mr Blair described the Conservative Government as being “in a state of dysfunction”.

He added: “Theresa May has taken this kind of extraordinary narrow view of this situation and just said ‘Right, here…

The Faculty of Divinity said an initial invitation to the psychology professor had been rescinded following “a further review”. Some students had protested against the visiting fellowship.

A controversial figure, Prof Peterson has attracted attention for his outspoken views on gender, race, political correctness and climate change.

In a response published on his website, he said: “I think the Faculty of Divinity made a serious error of judgement in rescinding their offer to me.”

Prof Peterson had previously said he was looking forward to spending two months at the university, as part of plans to produce a lecture series about the biblical book of Exodus.

The 56-year-old said he had been in talks with the Faculty of Divinity about giving talks to students which would have been of “mutual benefit” to all parties concerned.

The Faculty said: “Jordan Peterson requested a visiting fellowship at the Faculty of Divinity, and an initial offer has been rescinded after a further review.”

A spokesperson for Cambridge University was quoted by the Guardian as saying: “[Cambridge] is an inclusive environment and we expect all our staff and visitors to uphold our principles.

“There is no place here for anyone who cannot.”

Meanwhile, the withdrawal of the visiting fellowship was welcomed by the Cambridge University Students’ Union.

In a statement seen by the newspaper, the Union…