MPs’ Round-Up

MPs’ round-up I’d rather not back further restrictions

In my last column, I attempted to give a very brief summary of the kaleidoscope of activities in Westminster over the previous month. I’m conscious that – now more than ever – a week is not only a long time but a small eternity in politics, but at the time of writing, there was only one decision monopolising the attention of every MP over the last fortnight – the vote to reintroduce national restrictions to contain the transmission rate of covid-19. That vote was one of the most consequential we have seen for decades, and I was conscious, in making my decision, of the enormous impact it would have on the economy, jobs in our area, mental health and the texture of our everyday lives. When faced with whether or not to grant the government the power to lock us down again, I sought to balance a passionatelyheld belief in individual freedom against the grave counsel offered by Public Health England, the Chief Medical Officer, the NHS and SAGE. This week I led a debate in Westminster Hall on the future of the National Trust, in this its 125th anniversary. We all love the Trust but many of us worry about recent events. I live a mile from one of the National Trust’s big attractions, Stourhead, and BVM’s catchment has several trust properties. It is an important institution for us and the local economy. Readers may be aware of the furore surrounding some of the organisation’s recent actions and statements. Of particular concern are leaked plans to sack curators, close smaller houses and the report into slavery and colonialism. Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton

It is the job of those bodies to advise the Prime Minister and Cabinet as to the level of transmission and the consequent risk to public health and the fabric of the NHS. They gave a direct recommendation – that the only way to arrest the spread of covid was through imposing a new set of national restrictions. This is something we all desperately wished to avoid. The three-tier system was, indeed, designed to mitigate against just this risk. But like Germany,

MP for South West

Wiltshire Dr

Andrew Murrison The report is a badly contextualised gazetteer, conflating colonialism and slavery and painting a partial picture of people and properties covered –France, Belgium and other European countries, we have found ourselves in a position where this seemed imperative. I’m aware the statistical evidence for this fresh lockdown is contested. Like, I’m sure, all of you, I’ve been following the data extremely closely and know that the infection rate is, for the moment, now falling again. I know too the direst projections provided by the CMO don’t tally with the situation as we see it. But these truths do not confer the right for the government simply to ignore or reject the very clear scientific advice they’ve been given. I know that this fresh lockdown has already been met with widespread discontent. Over the course of the first lockdown, my constituency team and I faced an unprecedented amount of casework from those in real distress, grappling with the fact that their businesses, relationships and lives had been radically compromised. Before the vote on Wednesday, I spoke to ministers and Number 10 to make my concerns clear. including Churchill and his house, Chartwell. Publishing such a document gave the appearance that the trust was intentionally pushing an agenda, an impression supported by a series of leaked – but subsequently disowned – documents which point towards a re-purposing of the organisation contrary to its statutory functions. The Charity Commissioner too appears to have been sufficiently concerned to write to the trust for an explanation. Contrast to the English Heritage 2013 report ‘Slavery and the British Country House’, which does not imply that slavery and colonialism are the same evil and does not curl its upper My support for this lockdown was predicated upon it being strictly time-limited and upon the need for a further parliamentary vote for any suggested extension. Unless we see a truly dramatic worsening of the situation, I would be extremely reluctant to support any extension of these new restrictions. I was, of course, delighted to see the Chancellor extend the furlough scheme and other measures of financial support through to March. But I’m keen to ensure this is not a tacit admission that further lockdowns are seen as inevitable or any way desirable. Thinking about power, the Roman poet Juvenal tried to square the political circle by asking: “Who will watch the watchers?” And over the next few week and months – as we wait for phial after phial of the new vaccine to drop off the production line – I’ll be seeking to do just that – to scrutinise, on your behalf, those in whose hands our safety and economy rest and ensure that both are

I’ve been scrutinising National Trust’s version of history

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protected. lip at figures like Churchill, who, let’s remember, led Europe against tyranny, racism, slavery and antiSemitism. The trust has almost 6m members, lots of money and receives a lot of public funding – albeit indirectly. For the same reason the state doesn’t promote an ‘official history’, the trust shouldn’t push its own worldview. The trust must return to its role as a mediating institution, a de-politicised space and a bastion of civil society. I am glad the minister shared some of my concerns and welcomed the scrutiny. We will be keeping a close eye on the trust moving forward.

MPs’ round-up Let’s never forget how we rely on military

November is the month of All Souls, when we remember and pray for those we knew and loved who have died. As the weather turns, and the landscape decays, it almost forces a sombre air. The pinnacle of remembrance is of course the events and services and The Cenotaph and village and town memorials to those who have fallen in war, who have made the ultimate sacrifice. While Remembrance Sunday was very different this year I do not believe I am alone in thinking that the scaled back national commemoration seemed more significant this year due to its simplicity and quiet dignity. While we remember those of our military who have died, and those who live on with both physical and mental scars, I can never but reflect on the debt we owe those who today put on an uniform, prepared to defend us, and In case anyone was worried I was having a wobble, I should first of all just clarify that ‘my’ column printed in the last edition was actually Simon Hoare’s words and not mine. There was a publishing error and the headline didn’t represent my view at all - so I’ll hopefully put that right this week! My position on meals for children during school holidays is on my website at chrisloder.co.uk/families which includes the detail of the latest support for families this winter and school holidays in 2021. November of course is a month of Remembrance. I did my duty as the MP for West Dorset by not only taking part in acts of Remembrance across the constituency, but in also laying a wreath at the MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

our values to, when necessary, the death. When we are often faced with the question, some people believe it to be rhetorical, ‘what makes/ defines/marks out Britain today’ I always believe it is our military. Our forces are seen, across the world, as exemplars of best practice, quiet dignity and the personification of service.

MP for West Dorset Chris Loder Sherborne war memorial, and at other town memorials including in my home parish of Folke. But attending the Cenotaph on Armistice Day to lay a wreath, and privately attending the grave They do not just defend our country and the values we believe are important to us, but they carry those values overseas with their work in nation building, military training, humanitarian and aid work. Speak to anyone involved with government overseas and the conversation usually turns to their respect and admiration for UK forces. As a nation we should be proud of all that they do. Three domestic examples I believe highlight the status and respect for our military. Back in the summer when Lockdown release resulted in the facilities at Lulworth being put under unbearable strain, councillors and council staff tried to turn people away. Often they were, unforgivably, ignored. When a few soldiers were drafted in to man the gates things changed and people frankly did as they were asked. When a Brigadier took of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey was a very moving experience. In doing so, I hope that I will have expressed your will, especially given there are so many from West Dorset who would have liked to travel to London for this occasion but were unable to do so because of the lockdown. I was appalled by the disrespectful protest by Extinction Rebellion activists at the Cenotaph on Armistice Day and you may have already read in the press that I felt it my personal duty to remove their political statement, which I did. This stunt was a shocker and I’m afraid only does the climate change cause harm in itself. On the subject of the environment, I have recently co-sponsored of the Plastic Pollution Bill, to help part in a recent No10 covid press briefing to explain how the military was delivering mass covid testing in Liverpool the mood was one of relief; the knowledge that the job would be done calmly, professionally and well. When the Herculean task of delivering Nightingale hospitals in double quick time presented itself we turned to our miltary, and they got the job done with little fanfare or recognition. We declare on and around the 11th day of the 11th month: ‘we will remember them’. The phrase of course means that we will never allow ourselves to forget the sacrifice and service but, the use of the word ‘will’ can suggest something to be done in the future. I often think we should say, and pray, ‘we do, we will and we will always remember them’. Let us, in north Dorset, pledge to do

Mistaken identity, Remembrance and the environment

that each and every day. combat the damage caused by single-use plastics in particular, and I am also considering plastics-related amendments to the Environment Bill. As you read this column, we will be half-way through a second national lockdown and I appreciate what a very challenging time this is for our communities and local businesses. This period of national restriction will end on December 2 and I hope all our sacrifices will, by then, allow some normality during Advent. As we approach Christmas, I have been lobbying, as I did during the spring, for church services to be allowed to continue as soon as possible and I shall hopefully be playing the organ again this year at a carol service – fingers crossed! 63