Rishi Sunak refuses to endorse Suella Braverman’s claim multiculturalism has failed – as it happened

Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman. Photograph: Phil Noble/PA

6.15pm BST

Early evening summary

• Rishi Sunak has refused to endorse Suella Braverman’s claim that multiculturalism has failed. (See 5.01pm.) There is a good thread on this on Twitter from Sunder Katwala, head of the British Future thinktank, which studies race and identity issues. He points out that the word multiculturalism is interpreted in different ways by different politicians. The thread starts here.

The prime minister calling Britain “a fantastic multicultural democracy” fits with the government’s view that the UK is a role model/leader among multi-ethnic democracies, compared to other countries, like France. (It does not entail a commitment to a multiculturalism policy).

The Prime Minister calling Britain "a fantastic multicultural democracy" fits with the government's view that the UK is a role model/leader among multi-ethnic democracies, compared to other countries, like France. (It does not entail a commitment to a multiculturalism policy). https://t.co/vSMJIOEGpS

— Sunder Katwala (@sundersays) September 28, 2023

• Rishi Sunak has refused more than a dozen times to provide clarity over HS2’s future, but denied that scrapping the Birmingham to Manchester leg would be a betrayal of the north of England.

• The government is to limit measures councils can take to curb car traffic including 20mph speed restrictions and bus lanes, the Guardian understands, under plans that have alarmed travel groups and risks a row with local authorities.

• Growing numbers of criminals in England and Wales are being spared jail sentences because of prison overcrowding amid warnings that the problem will get worse.

Updated at 6.20pm BST

6.00pm BST

Sunak refuses to commit to discussing with Dublin 'plan B' approach to reviving power sharing at Stormont

In an interview with UTV, Rishi Sunak refused to commit to discussing a so-called “‘plan B” approach to revising power sharing at Stormont with the Irish government. Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach (Irish PM), has said a “plan B” may be necessary if the DUP continue to boycott Stormont.

Updated at 6.10pm BST