This Holocaust Memorial Day marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which has rightly been commemorated both within our community and in Parliament.
As co-Chair of the APPG on British Jews, it was a privilege to contribute to a service hosted by the Speaker in Parliament ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day. I read Never Shall I Forget from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night. The poem is a deeply moving account of his first night at the the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. This was an important opportunity for reflection and remembrance, and I was honoured to be asked to take part.
Also in Parliament, I signed the Holocaust Education Trust's Book of Commitment. This is to honour those who were murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the extraordinary survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.
I paid tribute to both victims and survivors in my contribution to the Holocaust Memorial Day debate in my shadow ministerial capacity. I acknowledged and praised the work of constituent Paul Sved, a Holocaust survivor who travels up and down the country to speak of his experiences as a child. The debate was also an opportunity to highlight the examples of humanity and kindness within the darkest of periods, and to from history and ensure we do not repeat its worst mistakes. You can watch my full contribution here.
Locally, the Harrow Arts Centre held its annual Holocaust Memorial Day event, which I was sorry to miss owing to Parliamentary business.
