My priorities on food and farming are well documented since becoming MP of rural West Dorset, especially as I used my maiden speech in the House of Commons to speak up for the UK’s high standards for the environment, animal welfare and food safety.

It was therefore with some surprise that I read uninformed and negative comments this week on social media about my latest vote on the Agriculture Bill, namely the ‘NC2’ amendment. For the avoidance of doubt, on 13th May – after much consideration - I voted in support of the standards amendment and wrote to the Farmers Weekly about it last week, along with my thoughts on how the farming lobby can better get its message through in future. You can read my letter at www.chrisloder.co.uk/farmers

The Agriculture Bill is now moving on to the House of Lords and it represents one of the most significant pieces of farming legislation to come before Parliament for decades.

Dorset hit national headlines last weekend for all the wrong reasons. I’d like to thank Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and all our dedicated emergency services, who have responded so professionally to several incidents in recent weeks, including many local crews who have attended very challenging forest fires.

The South West continues to have the lowest number of coronavirus cases in the UK and I believe we must now all take personal responsibility for our own individual safety, social distancing and hygiene – no matter where we live or where we travel to.

I am very much aware of concerns about isolated cases of crowding on beaches and I have been in touch with the council and the government about mitigations to manage these situations in the future. In the meantime, we are heading well and truly into a recovery transition period where local economies and jobs need our support.

CHRIS LODER

WEST DORSET MP