OUR war memorials are sacrosanct to the memory of those in our communities who gave their lives for us; and for the freedom and democracy we enjoy today. That is why when I left the House of Commons last Friday, I felt sickened to see The Cenotaph and the statue of Sir Winston Churchill being boarded up.

After two weekends of vandalism in Westminster, it was clear this had to stop; and I have just co-signed a new Desecration of War Memorials Bill, supported by 125 fellow Conservative MPs, being presented in the House of Commons on 23rd June. It will outlaw vandalism to memorials, with a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment if the Bill passes.

I met with the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday to share my concerns and views on this, as well as to pass on our best wishes to those injured police officers still receiving treatment in hospital.

This week there’s positive news for Dorchester and South Street as many shops reopen after three months' closure. I’ve written before about the ‘tightrope’ we tread going forward and now is the time for us all to support our local shops to help recovery. There is a proposal forthcoming that the Sunday Trading Act should be relaxed but I am minded not to support this. I believe extending Sunday trading hours would give an even greater share of the market to the larger stores, putting independent shops at real risk. I would be interested to hear your views at hello@chrisloder.co.uk

Lastly, I have been moved by the remarkable voluntary efforts of local people and businesses during this crisis and I invite you to nominate those unsung heroes you know, who you believe should be recognised for their efforts in the community, by visiting www.chrisloder.co.uk/heroes no later than 30th June.

WEST DORSET MP CHRIS LODER