In Parliament today, I signed the Holocaust Memorial Trust's Book of Commitment and, in doing so, pledged my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day which is commemorated on 27 January every year.
In light of the 7 October attacks, in which we saw the largest number of killings against the Jewish people simply for their religious beliefs since the Holocaust, it is particularly poignant to reflect on whether we have learnt lessons from history.
The Holocaust showed us that genocide is a process in which freedom is slowly eroded through the restriction and removal of rights. Jewish people, and anyone living alongside them who didn’t fit the narrative, were intentionally dehumanised as part of this process.
It is important to be aware of this in our life today. The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill in Parliament ensures that we remain vigilant against anti-Semitism in all its manifestations.
