Sir Tom Moore should be honoured with commemorative coin

Ps have backed calls for the Royal Mint to produce a commemorative coin in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Sir Tom, who raised more than £32 million for the NHS while walking laps of his garden, died on Tuesday after contracting Covid-19.

Since then more than 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for the grandfather to be honoured with a state funeral.

On Wednesday, the House of Commons dedicated a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the retired Army officer whose mantra was “tomorrow will be a good day”.

Speaking on Thursday, Conservative former minister Caroline Nokes told the Commons: “Captain Sir Tom Moore taught us that tomorrow is a good day. Can I ask (Mr Rees-Mogg) as Lord President of the Privy Council to use his influence to bring about a commemorative coin for this remarkable national treasure and a debate in this House?”

Mr Rees-Mogg responded: “(Ms Nokes) has the most brilliantly obscure knowledge because the approval of all coins does indeed come before the Privy Council on the suggestion of the Royal Mint.

“And I hope that as Lord President I do see a proposal from the Royal Mint in due course.”

He added: “Captain Sir Tom Moore dedicated his life to serving his country and others and he showed the value of all life that he in his hundredth and hundredth and first year, showed that somebody of great age can make as important a contribution as anybody else in the country did over that last year.

“And it is a reminder to all of us of the value of life and why it’s been right to protect life as far as we possibly can during this incredibly difficult period.”