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Backbench Business
28 January 2021
Lead MP
Stephen Crabb
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Community Security
Other Contributors: 64
At a Glance
Stephen Crabb raised concerns about backbench business in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
It is a privilege to open this important debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which took place yesterday, 27 January. Over the past 20 years, Holocaust Memorial Day has become an important part of our national life, with the numbers of events growing every year. The theme this year is “Be the light in the darkness”, and at the close of the ceremony last night we lit candles symbolising hope against hate, racism, antisemitism, and prejudice. Stephen Crabb emphasises the importance of remembrance, education, and tackling modern antisemitism, including its morphing into anti-Zionism, and acknowledges other genocides such as those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
Stephen Crabb
Con
not specified
Holocaust Memorial Day is about remembrance but also a moment to consider the darkness still around us today. The cancer of antisemitism spawns and thrives on social media, casting dark shadows across our society. Modern antisemitism invariably morphs into anti-Zionism and demonisation of Israel itself. Crabb cites examples like the Halle synagogue attack in Germany and issues within UK universities. He emphasises that genocides require planning, dehumanising ideologies, methods of mass communication to turn communities against each other, and people turning a blind eye.
Margaret Hodge
Lab
Barking
I congratulate the right hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire on his very good contribution. I discussed the persecution and imprisonment of Uyghurs and Rohingyas, emphasising the need to act together against prejudice and hate. I recounted my grandfather's experience as an interned enemy alien, highlighting the trauma faced by refugees during World War II and the loss of talented individuals due to Nazi actions. Emphasising the importance of keeping Holocaust knowledge alive, I detailed my personal struggle with antisemitism in the Labour party and praised colleagues for their support. I noted significant progress made under the new Labour leader towards eliminating antisemitism within the party.
Peter Bottomley
Con
Worthing West
I bowed in respect to the first two speeches, acknowledging their significance and expecting future speakers to match them. I quoted the words of remembrance put out with the candle lit last night for Holocaust Memorial Day. Emphasising the purpose of the holocaust memorial and education centre is to know, care, and act regardless of heritage, I discussed the Government's stance on making entry free if the proposed national heritage memorial and learning centre is built within 3 miles of London.
John Cryer
Ind
Leyton and Wanstead
I paid tribute to Members who secured this debate, suggesting an annual debate for Holocaust Memorial Day. I highlighted the rise in antisemitism both in Britain and across Europe, attributing it partly to historical events slipping into memory with the passing of survivors. I emphasised the importance of preserving the integrity of holocaust history against moral relativist views and praised organisations like the Holocaust Educational Trust for their work.
John Howell
Con
Henley
I shared my experience as a trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, mentioning the national moment last night which saw tens of thousands logging on. I reflected on visiting a concentration camp and seeing flowers growing from human ashes, symbolising beauty emerging from tragedy. Emphasising the importance of commemorating victims of genocide for learning where persecution based on faith and identity can lead.
Lisa Cameron
SNP
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
I thanked colleagues and organisations involved in Holocaust Memorial Day and highlighted the importance of not seeing atrocities as historical events. Discussing recent instances of antisemitic hate online during the pandemic, I emphasised the need to act against it on social media platforms and introduced more stringent barriers in the forthcoming online safety Bill.
Mark Tami
Lab
Alyn and Deeside
The holocaust did not begin with Auschwitz; its roots lay in the falsehoods and hatred that festered before and continue to exist today. Today, hate speech and holocaust denial can be found online at disturbing levels. The battle has moved from mass rallies to digital platforms where misinformation thrives. Holohoax deniers seek to soften the truth about the atrocities committed during WWII by suggesting exaggeration or blame on all sides—this is extremely dangerous and should not be allowed under any guise of free speech.
I have visited Auschwitz concentration camp and Israel's Yad Vashem, where I saw the impact of the Nazi regime. The Holocaust Educational Trust offers important resources to educate people about this terrible time in history so that it does not happen again. At a time when we cannot travel due to the pandemic, these online resources are crucial for learning and remembering.
Chris Evans
Lab Co-op
Caerphilly
The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘Be the light in the darkness’. It challenges us to shine a light whenever we encounter darkness, whether internationally or locally. I want to tell the story of Manfred Goldberg and his teacher Herr Bacher who managed to organise Manfred's bar mitzvah even while in the Riga ghetto. This act was a simple but powerful form of resistance against Nazi efforts to eradicate Jewish presence. We must continue to remember our responsibility to work for a better future, free from human rights abuses.
Rosie Duffield
Ind
Canterbury
Ms Duffield highlighted the difficulty of comprehending the scale of the Holocaust, comparing it to the impact of a lockdown on daily life. She emphasised the need for individuals not to be bystanders in the face of persecution and called out modern-day bullies.
Ms Robinson paid tribute to those who resisted during the Holocaust and discussed the importance of education about the event as it fades from living memory. She also highlighted current instances of genocide around the world, including against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and called for stronger pressure on these regimes.
Pat McFadden
Lab
Wolverhampton South East
Mr McFadden reflected on his visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the lessons learned. He emphasised the need to reject antisemitism within society, particularly within political parties. He also highlighted the role of the UK in welcoming refugees through programmes like Kindertransport.
Andrew Percy
Con
Brigg and Goole
It is an honour to take part in this debate today. He highlighted the name of Hilel Gruzin, a victim of the holocaust who died at age 21 in 1944 in Latvia. Percy thanked Brigg Town Council for organising a memorial day ceremony on Sunday and paid tribute to Rabbi Thomas Salamon whose mother was interned in one of the camps. He discussed the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) against antisemitism, focusing on online antisemitism as a growing problem in the country. Percy mentioned the removal of 92 books from Amazon due to holocaust denial material and wrote to Amazon regarding antisemitic content provided by David Icke. He urged platforms to act responsibly and hoped that the Online Harms Bill would provide an opportunity for them to do more.
Feryal Clark
Lab
Enfield North
It is an honour to speak in this debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Clark highlighted the importance of hearing testimonies from survivors and recognising other atrocities since the holocaust, such as those in Rwanda, Bosnia, Cambodia, and Yazidis genocide by ISIS in 2014. She mentioned that thousands of Yazidis still live in camps with hope of returning home and need accountability, justice for missing family members, respect for human rights and peace.
Liam Fox
Con
Wealden
Fox pondered the possibility of such atrocities happening again in today's world. He noted that nationalism was a dominant partner in Nazi Germany leading to systematic dehumanisation of various groups, including Jews. He pointed out the dangers of extreme nationalism and ethnic cleansing seen globally, including China’s treatment of Uyghurs, emphasising the importance of confronting dangerous ideologies.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Byrne thanked those who have helped organise the debate. He reflected on two lessons: one from Denmark where ordinary people organised the evacuation of 7,200 Jews to safety in Sweden; the other was about how schools like Rockwood Academy teach these lessons to children and named a new building after Mady Gerrard. He wants his region to become a sanctuary for refugees and encourages young people to spark a movement against hate.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central
Today’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme of “Be the light in the darkness” is really important. We are going through a form of darkness ourselves with the coronavirus epidemic, and 1,500 out of every 100,000 people in this country have died due to coronavirus. For European Jews, the death rate was two thirds of our whole community in the second world war. The fear that Jews had every day in the period from when Hitler took power was unbelievable.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden
It is a privilege to follow the hon. Member for Leeds North West, and a privilege to be able to speak today to recognise and commemorate all those who were lost in the holocaust. I am part of a generation fortunate enough to learn from the lived experiences of many people. However, I agree with the Prince of Wales, who said that the important truth is that we are increasingly losing living voices to educate us.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall
It is a privilege to be able to speak in such an important debate and I would like to echo the contributions of other hon. Members today. Holocaust Memorial Day allows us a moment to remember the 6 million Jewish victims of Nazi holocaust and the other victims of Hitler’s murderous regime. It also reminds us that genocide did not end in 1945.
Carolyn Harris
Lab
Neath and Swansea East
Every year across the country, we come together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day: to remember those who have been lost; to hear the retelling of stories from those who have survived; and to reflect on what we can do to stop such atrocities taking place again. I thank the Holocaust Educational Trust and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for the fantastic resources and ceremonies they have provided to ensure that the memorial is still happening safely in 2021. Thinking of this year’s theme—“Be the light in the darkness”—I think of those glimmers and moments of hope brought about through unimaginable bravery and courage.
I want to start by paying tribute to Olivia Marks-Woldman and the staff at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, and Karen Pollock and the good people at the Holocaust Educational Trust, for their tireless work to educate us all. “Be the light in the darkness”—what an amazingly powerful theme. It is a reminder that the anti-fascist values of those who stood against the Nazis are so important today. I have always been awed by the Warsaw ghetto uprising—a few streets that held out against overwhelming Nazi force for 28 days—and today I am remembering Tosia Altman.
It is humbling to join colleagues on both sides of the House and my constituents to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. For Jews around the world, including here in the UK, the holocaust is not just a terrible memory; it is something they live with on a permanent basis—the photographs of family members they never got to meet, and the knowledge that the thriving Jewish communities across Europe were all but annihilated. One memory was brought into sharp focus this year, in a time of pandemic: the numbers tattooed on the arms of parent and grandparents.
Gerald Jones
Lab
Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Today is an opportunity to pause and remember the millions of people affected by genocide, including those in more recent genocides such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur. The horrors of these events are staggering, and they continue today with the persecution of Rohingyas, Uyghurs, and others. The 2021 theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is 'Be the light in the darkness.' We must all be the light by holding perpetrators accountable, challenging discrimination and racism, and working together to prevent genocide.
Holocaust Memorial Day focuses on being the light against persecution, oppression, and injustice. Since the holocaust, we have seen genocides in Anfal, Rwanda, Bosnia, Rohingya, Yazidi, and currently Uyghur regions. Antisemitism continues to rise, with 89% of Jews feeling it has increased over the past decade. The UK must take action by limiting trade with genocidal regimes and not be complicit or turn a blind eye to genocide for convenience or profit.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
We must remember the horrific events of the past, including the holocaust and other genocides. The theme 'Be the light in the darkness' is fitting as we see a rise in far-right fascism and economic challenges from the coronavirus pandemic. We must challenge prejudice and hatred seen daily, condemn it when it marches across streets or online platforms, and expose political legitimacy for such ideals.
The debate is an opportunity to remember victims of the holocaust and other genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Darfur. Antisemitism persists in the UK and worldwide, with online antisemitism at its highest level ever. Racism has no place in our society; education can overcome ignorance. The planned education centre and dedicated Holocaust Memorial will serve as a beacon for future generations to reject hatred, prejudice, and denial.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Recalls his late cousin Joan Priday who was involved in liberating Belsen and her lasting trauma. Emphasises the importance of remembering the Holocaust to prevent similar atrocities from happening again.
Pays tribute to the National Holocaust Centre and encourages adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. Calls for action against genocide around the world, including Rwanda and Srebrenica.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Reflects on a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau before the 2019 general election and stresses that ordinary people can commit extraordinary evil. Urges tackling antisemitism in communities, especially within political parties.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Recounts the scale of the Holocaust's tragedy and emphasises remembering all victims, including non-Jewish groups. Questions why we did not act in past genocides and calls for genuine commitment to preventing future atrocities.
Fiona Bruce
Con
Congleton
Bruce describes the human rights crisis in North Korea as being without parallel. She references a UN report that designated violations there as crimes against humanity, and she acknowledges the work of Timothy Cho, an intern who worked for her office and is inspired by democracy and freedom.
Margaret Ferrier
SNP
Rutherglen
Ferrier addresses the theme 'Be the light in the darkness' and highlights ongoing persecution of minorities around the world, including the Rohingya and Uyghurs. She emphasises the importance of combating antisemitic, anti-Muslim, homophobic, and transphobic attitudes.
Bury South
Wakeford discusses holocaust denial on social media platforms such as BitChute. He provides statistics from a CST study showing vast quantities of antisemitic content with over 1.5 million views, and he calls for action when the online harms Bill comes forward.
Warrington North
Nichols speaks about Holocaust Memorial Day coinciding with Tu Bishvat and discusses the renaissance of the festival in contemporary Judaism. She emphasises the need for large-scale changes to protect refugees, combat online fascist propaganda, and hold other nations accountable.
Marco Longhi
Con
Dudley North
Britain provided a haven for Jewish refugee children during the Holocaust, and this is exemplified by Dudley's Kindertransport scheme. Marco Longhi emphasises that there must be no place for identity-based prejudice or hostility in British society today. He welcomes the Government’s introduction of the online harms Bill but asks Ministers to look again at the categorisation to ensure more can be done to tackle smaller platforms like BitChute, which is a video platform for neo-Nazis.
Mike Hill
Lab
Hartlepool
Mike Hill stresses that Holocaust Memorial Day should encourage each and every one of us in the House to stand up against hatred. He highlights that genocides have occurred since WWII, including recent ones across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and southern and central Asia. Mike calls for redoubling efforts to stop such slaughters and urges everyone to set an example by opposing those who seek division and spread false information.
Eastleigh
Antony Higginbotham reiterates the importance of remembering what happened in 1945 during the liberation of Auschwitz, emphasising the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day: 'be the light in the darkness'. He supports a permanent holocaust memorial next to Parliament and acknowledges that antisemitism appears to be on the rise. Higginbotham mentions the need to expose hate from obscure internet platforms like BitChute and highlights a local case of antisemitic attack in Burnley.
Patricia Gibson
SNP
North East Fife
Patricia Gibson reflects on the ongoing atrocities against the Uyghur population as an example of genocide occurring today. She advocates for a clear stance against any country committing genocide and emphasises that there must be no doubt in condemning such abuses. Gibson calls for supporting an amendment to the Trade Bill to terminate trade deals with countries perpetrating genocides.
Kate Osborne
Lab
Jarrow and Gateshead East
Ms Osborne paid respects to those lost during the Holocaust and other genocides, mentioning Rwanda, Darfur, Cambodia, and Bosnia. She highlighted the importance of remembering those who were victims of Nazi brutality based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and disability. Ms Osborne emphasised the need for continuous education of future generations to foster a more tolerant society.
Mary Foy
Lab
City of Durham
Ms Foy noted the illumination of landmarks in Durham to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, emphasising the importance of reflecting during difficult times. She discussed the theme 'light in the darkness', highlighting the need to remember those who were murdered and stand against prejudice today. Ms Foy warned about scapegoating and mentioned anti-Traveller sentiment as an unacceptable form of racism.
Mr Randall highlighted that the Holocaust is not the only example of man’s inhumanity to man, emphasising the need to remember due to its power to shock. He discussed attitudes prevalent in early 20th-century society and shared a poignant story about Toivi Blatt's return to his home village, underscoring the reminder that while such attitudes are less prevalent today, they have not been extinguished.
I am truly humbled to be called to take part in today’s debate... As I know many colleagues wish to speak in this debate, I will end my speech now.
Newcastle upon Tyne North
The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is “Be the light in the darkness”... and never again.
North Norfolk is a peaceful constituency of farming, beautiful coastline and, of course, the Norfolk broads... So have I any right to call out Sir Thomas for worrying more about the British sugar subsidy in 1935 than the persecution of Jews in Germany? No.
Richard Holden
Con
Basildon and Billericay
It is a privilege to speak in today’s debate... I cannot think of a more poignant or apt tribute to those people.
Taiwo Owatemi
Lab
Coventry North West
Today we collectively commemorate and remember them. Today we collectively grieve and say, “Never again.” The theme invites us to reflect on the murky depths to which humanity can sink. We saw it in the holocaust and in the genocides that followed, from Cambodia to Darfur, Bosnia and Rwanda—dark stains on all of humanity. The light derives from communities who defied evil and those who rose to save lives. I am proud that Coventry still holds its status as a sanctuary city.
Between 1935 and 1945, an estimated 16 million people were killed by the Nazi regime. That included 6 million Jews, 7 million Soviet citizens, 3 million Soviet prisoners of war, 1.8 million non-Jewish Polish civilians, 312,000 Serbian civilians, 250,000 people with disabilities and 250,000 Roma Gypsies. The breadth of depravity was breathtaking. It included legalised social discrimination, involuntary hospitalisation, euthanasia, forced sterilisation, forced labour, sexual slavery, human experimentation and downright murder.
We must never forget that we allowed it to happen. That is why we cannot quietly ignore or excuse antisemitism. Excuses mean complicity. When we think of Israel, it is right to question the motives of those who constantly single out that state for special treatment.
David Simmonds
Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
My constituency is home to a long-standing Jewish community. We have heard many examples during this debate of where our country has been, or has tried to be, the light against genocide and oppression, wherever it has occurred in the world. The UK is the leading country in Europe for the resettlement of child refugees.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
In 2013, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau. What affected me more than anything else were the signs of life—the human hair, the family suitcases, the stacks of shoes. Today in Parliament we remember the 6 million Jewish people and the millions of Roma, Sinti, LGBT and disabled people who were murdered by the Nazis.
It is painful to imagine, as a parent, the possibility of saying goodnight to one’s child and not knowing whether a knock at the door could mean never saying goodnight to them again. That is the reality of the holocaust. Six million lives were lost—due not to famine or pandemic, but to hate... We cannot bring back those whose lives were ended too soon, but we can ensure that others do not have to fear that knock at the door.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
I pay tribute to Liverpool’s long-established Jewish community and two former residents: Maurice Eschwege and his daughter Vera Goltschmitt. Maurice moved from Germany to Liverpool where he ran a jewellers and pawnbrokers business on Lime Street. When his wife Isabella died, Maurice was transported to a German camp—he never returned. His daughter and her husband were all transported to Auschwitz and murdered alongside millions of others... Today, we must recognise that genocide does not begin with the death camp but is what happens when we allow discrimination, racism and hatred to go unchecked.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Yesterday, International Holocaust Remembrance Day marked 76 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. By the end of the second world war, 6 million Jewish people had been murdered by the Nazis... We have seen a worrying creeping rise of the virus of antisemitism across our country in recent years, and we cannot be complacent. A recent report suggested that for the fourth year in a row, the number of antisemitic incidents in Britain has increased.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
It is an honour to take part in this Holocaust Memorial Day debate and to hear the many moving and memorable contributions... I visited Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam with my own daughter, and was shocked afresh at the conditions in which her family had been forced to exist. But I will—because of what I am thinking about today, because of what we in this place must do.
David Amess
Con
Southend West
Supports the Government's continued support for the Community Security Trust, condemns antisemitism and encourages countries to improve human rights records.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
Welcomes the debate on Holocaust Memorial Day and highlights the importance of using power as parliamentarians to ensure such atrocities do not happen again. Calls for more training for civil servants, political leadership in preventing genocides and increasing offers of sanctuary for victims.
Jonathan Gullis
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Reflects on personal experiences and the importance of acknowledging historical atrocities. Calls out acts of genocide happening around the world and expresses support for Ruth Smeeth's stance against antisemitism.
Alistair Carmichael
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Pays tribute to those murdered in the Holocaust, highlights the importance of information access today compared to wartime. Commends British Jewish community for standing against Uyghur Muslim persecution.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Expressed support for the Jewish nation and the importance of remembering the Holocaust. Highlighted the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism by the UK Government in 2016, but criticised the slow uptake by universities and certain Members promoting an 'antisemitic trope'. Emphasised the need to speak up against genocide around the world.
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
East Renfrewshire
Paid tribute to Holocaust survivors Judith Rosenberg and Henry Wuga, emphasising the importance of remembering the Holocaust and preventing its recurrence. Discussed the need for continuous education on Holocaust history and current genocides like those against Uyghur Muslims in China. Emphasised the role of individuals, such as Jane Haining, who stood by their communities during dark times.
Steve Reed
Lab Co-op
Streatham and Croydon North
He emphasised the importance of recognising the history of the holocaust for future generations, congratulating Members on their contributions to the debate. He highlighted his visit to Auschwitz with students from his constituency and his tour at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, stressing that humanity has not yet learned the lessons of the holocaust. Reed acknowledged the impact of antisemitism within the Labour party and its slow response to addressing it. He mentioned establishing the Centre for Countering Digital Hate to combat online antisemitism and welcomed legislative changes proposed by the Government. He also expressed his support for Labour’s new leader's commitment to making the party a safe space for Jewish members and highlighted the importance of adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Reed concluded with a personal story about his constituent Eric Sanders, a holocaust survivor, emphasising the importance of inspiring future generations to build a better world.
Robert Jenrick
Reform
Newark
Stressed the importance of remembering the holocaust and combating antisemitism. Mentioned personal family connections to the holocaust, highlighted ongoing genocides and hate speech during the pandemic. Emphasised the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism by government bodies, universities, and institutions such as the English Premier League. Pledged support for a new Holocaust memorial and learning centre in London and acknowledged the work of Karen Pollock and Olivia Marks-Woldman.
Expressed gratitude to all 76 Members who contributed, praising their speeches as moving, powerful, intelligent, and well-informed. Highlighted strong commitments shown by various political parties towards ensuring the holocaust is remembered in national memory.
Shared his experience of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau for the first time last year and emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant against hate speech and prejudice, urging everyone to continue shining a light on these issues indefinitely.
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