I was recently asked to present an award at the Barking & Dagenham Faith & Community Awards 2020.

They serve as recognition for those trying to build a better community and, to my mind, showcase our philosophy of One Borough, One Community.

That spirit was also on display at the India and Pakistan Independence Day celebrations, where it was my privilege to hoist the flags with the leader of the council, Cllr Darren Rodwell.

I was also excited to join the Mayor of London and the leader at the Dagenham Film Studios site, after the project received the green light, and meet some of the businesses already there.

That same day, I visited the Boathouse Café in the River Roding area, which recently reopened after lockdown.

These are difficult times for the local economy, so it’s good to see Barking and Dagenham moving forwards again.

Let’s continue to support our local businesses.

Not everything has been as positive as lockdown eases and I’ve been distressed to see a sharp rise in the number of assaults on police officers in London.

While we know there are issues to be addressed, there is no excuse for attacking those who have the difficult job of keeping us all safe.

We have also recently marked the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

There are now only a few survivors left, but their story must not be forgotten.

Many British prisoners of war were tortured and held in inhumane conditions, but they never lost their fighting spirit and returned home determined to build a better post-war world – a lesson we should keep with us as we recover from Covid-19.