Emma Soames told the BBC the war-time prime minister was a “complex man” but he was considered a hero by millions.
She said she was “shocked” to see the monument in London’s Parliament Square boarded up, although she said she understood why this was necessary.
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It came after protesters daubed “was a racist” on the statue last weekend.
Ms Soames said it was “extraordinarily sad that my grandfather, who was such a unifying figure in this country, appears to have become a sort of icon through being controversial.”
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