The Formula One Grand Prix is still set to go ahead tomorrow in Bahrain, despite continuing clashes between security forces and protesters in which the opposition claim one person has been killed.

Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators clashed with police in Manama, as pressure grows for the event to be cancelled.

Ed Miliband has urged the Government to intervene and put pressure on organisers to pull out, but the Prime Minister insisted the UK was right to support the reforms underway in the country.

In a conversation with the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called on Bahrain to "show restraint in dealing with protests" and demanded "further progress in implementing political reforms".

Mr Hague said: "We urge all sides to restrain from violence and to enter into an inclusive and constructive political dialogue to achieve long term stability for Bahrain."

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone came under fire last night for dismissing the crisis as "a lot of nonsense".

Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman has cited "well-sourced rumours in Westminster" to back her claims that the Government is considering closing down the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Institute for Economic Affairs estimates that closing DCMS could save around £1.6bn a year, meaning the Government could use the savings for tax cuts. However Downing Street sources have insisted that such a move is "not in the offing".

Conservative and Labour MPs have joined calls for this month's Bahrain Grand Prix to be called off amid concerns about human rights abuses in the Gulf state.

Damian Collins, a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said Formula 1 should not be seeking to "aid" a regime like Bahrain's. However the Foreign Office insist the fate of the race is for the governing body, the FIA, to decide.

David Cameron has chaired a summit at Downing Street today aimed at tackling racism in football.

Representatives from the football authorities, former players and campaign groups took part in the meeting. The discussion focused on progress achieved to date, the challenges ahead and how the Government can support the football authorities and campaign groups to send a clear message that any form of discrimination will not be tolerated in the national game.

The football authorities have agreed to work together on a way forward and report back to Government before the start of the next season.

The Prime Minister said: "Football must do more to be inclusive, in order that the beautiful game is truly open to all players, managers, coaches and supporters. Today’s announcements mark a further step towards this goal. We will continue to work in partnership to confront discrimination within the sport."

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We’ve made significant progress over the last two decades in tackling discrimination in football and this is something we should be proud of. But we mustn’t become complacent. It would be great to see more black and ethnic minority coaches and managers working in the game and this is something we want to work on achieving with the football authorities."

Attendees expected at the meeting included representatives from the Football Association, the Premier League, the Football League, The Professional Footballers’ Association and the League Managers’ Association as well as individuals including John Barnes, Graeme Le Saux, Paul Elliott and Amal Fashanu.

Writing in The Sun today, the Prime Minister said that racism in football could not be brushed "under the carpet" and that the Government is prepared to do "anything it can to help".

David Cameron will host a summit at Downing Street today aimed at cleaning up football. The meeting of high level officials from the sport will discuss how to prevent the racial slurs and bigoted comments that have plagued the sport in recent years.

David Cameron is to host a Downing Street summit on racism in football to avoid a return to the "bad old days", Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed yesterday. High-profile incidents involving Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Chelsea's John Terry have reignited debate over the issue in recent weeks.

The Culture Secretary has urged the Football Association to look into "unsporting behaviour" in yesterday's match between Manchester United and Liverpool.

Commenting on Luis Suarez's refusal to shake the hand of an opponent following a racism row, Jeremy Hunt said: “It’s incredibly depressing. It was very unsporting behaviour. I’m sure the FA will look into whether any rules were broken."

David Cameron is to enter the row over racism in football by hosting a Downing Street summit on the issue. The Prime Minister and Mr Hunt are to hold a "round table discussion" with the sport's authorities and players' representatives.

Mr Hunt added: "This is the kind of thing that can so easily escalate, which is why the Prime Minister has decided that he’s going to take a real interest and have this meeting in Downing Street.”