The hon. Jim Shannon commended the right hon. Lady for securing the debate and expressed agreement that remembering is not out of morbidity but necessity, to ensure lessons are learned so such atrocities do not happen again.

Apologised for missing part of the initial speech and discussed the importance of Holocaust education. Mentioned personal experiences related to Holocaust survivors and emphasised the need to understand how individuals like Adolf Hitler can rise to power, leading to dangerous consequences. Emphasised the necessity for state control over violence and protection against private militias. Urged for better global democracy standards and highlighted the significance of preventing genocidal attacks on communities defined by race or religion.

Pays tribute to the Backbench Business Committee for making time for the debate. Acknowledges the importance of holding such debates in Parliament's main chamber rather than Westminster Hall. Compliments the co-sponsor, Dame Margaret Hodge, on her speech and family experience shared during the debate. Emphasises the significance of Holocaust Memorial Day as we move further from the lived experiences of those who survived the holocaust or served in WWII. Highlights the work done by organisations like the Holocaust Educational Trust to keep this history alive. Mentions the Shetland bus story, which involves small fishing boats that rescued refugees and downed airmen during World War II, and draws attention to the human cost involved. Acknowledges the current context of the debate in light of recent events, including the heightened vulnerability felt by Jewish communities post-7 October. Stresses the importance of calling out antisemitism wherever it is observed to prevent history from repeating itself.

Mr. Stewart recounted his experiences during the Bosnia conflict, including witnessing mass killings, crucifixions, and other brutal acts against civilians. He emphasised the responsibility of individuals to prevent genocide by speaking out about it and highlighting the failure of international bodies like the United Nations in preventing such atrocities.

Expressed gratitude to colleagues for their contributions on Holocaust Memorial Day and the importance of remembering atrocities like the Rwandan genocide. Emphasised the horror of industrial slaughter in the holocaust and the impact of hatred, discrimination, and propaganda leading up to the Rwandan genocide. Shared Daphrosa's testimony about her life before and during the genocide, highlighting how neighbours turned into perpetrators despite previous friendly relations. Described Daphrosa’s family’s tragic experiences including rape, murder, and the psychological aftermath for survivors. Concluded by stressing the ongoing relevance of 'Never Again' in light of recent global events.

Expresses his personal experience visiting the site of a pogrom in Israel, highlighting similarities between recent events and historical antisemitic atrocities. He mentions boycotts of Jewish products, attacks on synagogues, and indoctrination of hate against Jews by left-wing activists and Islamist extremists. He calls out those who criticised the response to 7 October without condemning Hamas actions. Percy also discusses the safety of Jewish people in the UK and their rights to express different views freely.

It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy). I thank the right hon. Member for Barking (Dame Margaret Hodge) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) for securing today’s debate and allowing us to talk about something that has always been important in this House—Holocaust Memorial Day has always been the day on which we remember and recommit ourselves to ensuring that the holocaust does not happen again—but this year, it is particularly important that we are aware of it. Two things have happened to me personally since the last time I spoke in one of these debates. Like my right hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland, I am of that generation for whom the holocaust was always history. We were told about it by our parents who had been children during the war and had heard about it. We had no personal experience of it, but information and knowledge about it was everywhere. It was in comics, in the films that we saw and the books that we read, everything from “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank to “Schindler’s List”. We were aware of it, but we did not actually believe that it would or could ever happen again, because we would not let it happen again—it would never have happened in this country anyway, because we would not let it happen. However, since 7 October, I have become increasingly worried that we in this country are just a fraction complacent about the danger that anything like the holocaust, Darfur or Cambodia could happen here.

I absolutely and totally agree with the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine), and I am a bit shocked by this, because it has come up on me. As a teenager, I lived in a little village in a prosperous agricultural area in the north of the South Island in New Zealand. It was a mecca for European immigrants, who flooded into the area, and the schools were co-educational and multiracial. There were plenty of schoolboy spats, especially on the rugby field, as Members can imagine, but I do not remember any racial aggravation at all. Most of the men of my parents’ generation were involved in the second world war. Almost all of them served overseas from New Zealand, and when they came back they told stories, including some of the horrific ones we have heard today. Like a typical teenage boy, I got fascinated, and I haunted the village library for appropriate books. Inevitably, in reading them, I read the books on the Nuremberg trials and associated books, and to say I was morbidly horrified would be one of the biggest understatements ever. That was probably capped in 1982 when I saw, at a full-screen cinema, the film “Sophie's Choice”. As a father, that scene of the Gestapo officer walking the wee girl away was the stuff of nightmares, and it would have scarred any parent.

Steve McCabe discussed his personal education about the Holocaust, highlighting contributions from the Holocaust Educational Trust and March of the Living. He shared details about the impact on Polish Jews during World War II and emphasised the importance of remembering historical events to inform present-day actions. He criticised those who chant for peace while also advocating for violence against Israel and questioned their understanding of history. McCabe stressed the need for peace, an end to suffering in Gaza, and a two-state solution but warned that some protesters' chants risk encouraging division and hatred.

Alex Sobel intervened to commend Steve McCabe's speech for highlighting the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust. He also emphasised the importance of recognising the experiences of those who lived through World War II and preserving living testimony, encouraging second-generation individuals and research bodies to continue educating about the Holocaust.