The threat of vandalism must not stop a proposed bronze statue of Margaret Thatcher from being erected in Parliament Square, Theresa May has said.

The statue of the former Tory leader has been blocked by the Government amid fears that it will be vandalised by Leftwing activists.

The Prime Minister has now weighed in and said that the potential for the statue to be vandalised should not be a reason not to go ahead with the statue.

Speaking in Hamburg as she attends the G20 summit of world leaders, Mrs May said: “What I’m very clear about is there should be no suggestion that the threat of vandalism should stop a statue of Margaret Thatcher from being put up.”