CONSERVATIVE MP Jacob Rees-Mogg visited Weymouth to spread encouragement to small businesses and budding entrepreneurs amid the coronavirus pandemic, as he declared: "We need to go back to our lives".

The Leader of the House of Commons said it was time to start rebuilding the economy following months of lockdown, and encouraged tourists to visit the town to boost local businesses.

Mr Rees-Mogg met with Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, before touring Weymouth harbour, enjoying an ice cream at the independently run Boho Gelato. They also visited harbourside fishmonger, Weyfish, which recently received a government grant of more than £46,000 to expand, and Weymouth Pavilion, which has finally reopened its doors after months of being closed during the pandemic, leading to losses of more than £500,000.

Mr Rees-Mogg, who revealed his father visited the town regularly when he was a child, said: "I know how difficult it has been for small businesses. The government has tried to put schemes in place to help but what I am saying now is that we need to go back to our lives.

"Small businesses are very important. Economic growth comes from small businesses who create more jobs than the large businesses remove. The government always needs to be aware of how to help small businesses."

He insisted now was the ideal time to set up a business, despite the current climate.

He said: "This is the time to set up a business. Demand has fallen sharply but that is only because the government forced it to. Demand from consumers has not stopped so the promise of recovery is good.

"The opportunities are great for businesses. Set up a business. Do it tomorrow!"

Sean Cooper, co-owner of Weyfish, said: “It means a lot that they came. I was speechless when I got the call. The fact that they came and were all briefed and genuinely interested and complimentary of the impact we are having was amazing.”

Mr Rees-Mogg was pleased to encourage visitors to come to the town to help boost the economy. Both he and Mr Drax think rebuilding the economy outweighs any risk of an increased rate of coronavirus infection tourists may bring to Dorset.

Mr Drax added: "I think if the infection rate goes up then we just need to get on with it. People are happy to make their own decisions. We all need to get on with our lives and use our common sense."

Mr Rees Mogg's visit came just a day after the government made a humiliating U-turn on the way A Level and GCSE results are graded.

He said: "I think it was the right thing to do to recognise the unfairness to individuals. When we saw young people being treated badly by their marks it was awful."