'Unity matters as much now as during the war'

As we gather once again for Remembrance Sunday we remember not just those who served and sacrificed, but what they stood for.

- Gareth Snell - MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central

REMEMBRANCE: Poppies at a war memorial.

Each November, the red poppy reminds us of courage, loss and gratitude.

But it also reminds us of something deeper - unity.

The men and women we remember each November didn't just fight an enemy, they fought an idea, the belief that hate and fear should divide us. They proved that unity, compassion and courage can overcome even the darkest times.

In today's world, when division and intolerance sometimes feel close to the surface again, we would do well to remember that lesson. The poppy is not just a symbol of the past - it is a reminder of the values that keep us free.

That, I believe, is the true spirit of remembrance. Not just to look back, but to look around us and recognise how much stronger we are when we stand together.

It's captured perfectly in our city's own motto: 'Vis Unita Fortior'- United Strength is Stronger.

Eighty years ago, Britain stood on the brink of darkness. Across Europe and the world, fascism, intolerance and hate threatened to divide and destroy.