Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to do all in her power “to ensure we never forget where prejudice and hatred can lead”, in her message for Holocaust Memorial Day – marking the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s (HET) Book of Commitment, the Prime Minister pointed out: “The new national memorial to the Holocaust will sit in the shadow of Parliament, alongside a world class learning centre. It will make a permanent statement of our promise to remember and our commitment to teach future generations to fight hatred in all its forms”.
Some 400 politicians from all parties have signed the book, and last week, CFI Vice-Chairman Andrew Percy MP led a debate in the House of Commons to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
The UK’s Special Envoy for post-Holocaust Issues, and new Honorary Vice-President of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Rt. Hon. Sir Eric Pickles this week joined 150 survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides to celebrate their arrival in Britain and contribution to the country.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd met Holocaust survivors this week, and wrote in the Jewish News that “it was truly humbling to be able to speak alongside people who have gone through such unimaginable suffering and horror”.
She said: “Survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides are remarkable and it is an absolute inspiration to listen to them.
I encourage everyone this Holocaust Memorial Day to take the time to hear their stories”.
Click here to read Home Secretary Rudd’s article in full.
Writing in the Jewish Chronicle this week, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “this government is determined that the genocide of six million Jews will never be forgotten. We will build a Holocaust memorial and learning centre beside Parliament to serve as a reminder of the depths to which humanity can sink, and the importance of standing together against bigotry and hatred”.
The Foreign Secretary underlined: “Even today, the truth about the Holocaust is distorted and sometimes denied. The most grotesque comparisons are drawn between Zionism and Nazism, including by public figures who should know better”.
Click here to read Mr Johnson’s article in full.
