Polanski and Novara Media condemned for making appalling Holocaust comparisons

The far-left website Novara Media and Green Party leader Zack Polanski have both been accused of making “appalling Holocaust comparisons” after likening the UK government’s new asylum policy to Nazi-era seizures of Jewish property.

On Tuesday, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced new measures to address the UK’s asylum crisis in the House of Commons, Novara Media posted on social media a photograph of jewellery seized by the Nazis, accompanied by the caption: “Labour’s Plan To Seize Asylum Seekers’ Jewellery ‘Resembles Nazi Policy.’”

The post falsely claimed Mahmood’s plan, including the confiscation of valuables from asylum seekers to fund their support here, which  “resembles a policy used against Jewish people in Nazi Germany, critics have noted.”

The post continued: “Under Mahmood’s crackdown, the state will seize assets from migrants—including jewellery, watches, cars, and bikes—and sell them to cover their accommodation costs. In Nazi Germany, the state systematically confiscated and catalogued jewellery and other property from Jewish people.”

It referenced a 1945 photograph of wedding rings confiscated from prisoners at Buchenwald, while noting that, under Mahmood’s plan, wedding rings would be exempt.

Campaign group Good Law Project had also condemned Labour’s proposals, writing on X: “Inspired by Donald Trump, backed by Tommy Robinson, channelling the Nazis—here’s Labour’s new policy on migration.”

Separately, on BBC2’s Newsnight, Greens leader Zack Polanski drew a direct parallel between the government’s policies and the Nazis, stating: “This is extreme, this is inhumane …how dare the minister talk about compassion at the same time as they are talking about seizing people’s assets.”

He continued: “I am a child of Jewish ancestry. I am Jewish, and we have seen this with Nazi Germany. We are seeing it in 2025; this government needs to hang their heads in shame.”

Karren Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, responded: “There is absolutely no justification for these appalling Holocaust comparisons.

“They distort the unique horrors of the Holocaust. To invoke any of this for cheap political point-scoring is not only deeply inappropriate but utterly disgraceful.”

During parliamentary debate, Mahmood repeatedly denied claims that the government intends to seize jewellery from asylum seekers. Left-wing MP Sarah Owen asked: “What evidence does the Secretary of State have that taking personal belongings, such as jewellery, from refugees and selling them off actually works as a deterrent?”

Mahmood replied: “We are not taking jewellery at the border; I cannot say it any more clearly than that.”

Mahmood clarified: “The sort of cases we are going after are those in which people have assets and access to money and can afford quite expensive cars. Those people should make a contribution to the cost of what is currently free asylum support.

“The two things are not the same, and I urge you not to conflate them. We will not, and never will, seize people’s jewellery at the border; we are not going after their sentimental items, such as wedding rings. We are talking about those who have high-value assets and, having claimed asylum in this country—but before they have been granted refugee status—receive free accommodation from the state.”

The Home Secretary was widely praised for plan to tackle the crisis, noticeably by politicians and commentators outside of the Labour Party.

On Tuesday evening, Mahmood responded swiftly and effectively to criticism, including from Green MP Carla Denyer, Jeremy Corbyn, and Zarah Sultana.

She also rejected claims her policies were more suited to those of Reform UK, noting the inclusion of measures to ensure safe and legal routes for those seeking asylum legally.