MP for Stroud Siobhan Baillie gives an exclusive statement giving her thoughts on the recommendations to MailOnline after not passing comment in other publications.

She reiterates her view that statues should remain on display, with plaques potentially added to them if ‘controversy arises’. She continues, ‘I oppose removal of history and statues. To do so serves no purpose other than to allow some people to decide or be selective with history or decide what is most comfortable and cause no offence.’

Baillie ends her statement with complaints that the conversation has ‘bizarrely become a political attack from the left’. She says, ‘I remain disappointed that myself and other local people who believe statues should remain in place were called racist, shouted down and hounded on social media.’ The article receives 2,200 comments, and when reposted onto the Daily Mail’s Facebook page, gains another 1,000 there.