Last Thursday, the nation woke up to the news that a council was considering removing the statue of Lord Baden Powell for safekeeping.

The founder of the Scouts was, apparently, a Nazi sympathiser.

While he was misguided, so were many men of his era and background, including members of the government who preached appeasement.

Now the statue on Poole Quay is, like Churchill’s in Parliament Square, boarded up, a move that only plays into the hands of a mindless minority.

A wave of intolerance has swept this country since the abhorrent killing of George Floyd in the US.

To speak out against intolerance here is often condemned as racist in itself by those who would rewrite our history.

Of course we must listen to people’s genuine concerns about discrimination, whoever they are, and act upon them.

At the same time, though, we must stand up for law and order and the freedom we enjoy in this country, for which many gave their lives.

The desecration of the Cenotaph by rioters two weeks ago, on the actual D-Day anniversary, was beyond ironic.

Without those sacrifices, there would be no liberty to demonstrate in the streets.

Others have fallen foul of this increasing intolerance in recent days, and for different reasons, including JK Rowling, the New York Times editor, Little Britain and Gone with the Wind.

Those who speak out against this assault on freedom of expression – let’s call it that - are now described as courageous.

Clearly, something is very wrong and, while we must respect issues of discrimination, it is not an excuse to undermine our way of life.

And nor must we be silenced by intolerance.

That leads ultimately to anarchy, which sadly a minority seeks.

SOUTH DORSET MP RICHARD DRAX