Sunak praises Holocaust survivors who ‘bravely tell stories we never forget’
The prime minister recognised the efforts of survivors in the Commons in response to a question put to him by Harrow East MP Bob Blackman on the anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Rishi Sunak has praised the Holocaust survivors who “bravely tell their stories so we might never forget” in response to a call from an MP to recognise their efforts on the anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Speaking in the Commons during prime minister’s question time, the Harrow East MP Bob Blackman had urged Sunak to condemn antisemitism in “all its forms” as he recognised the continued “brilliant work” of the survivors.
The MP also singled out the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust [HET] for praise.
Thank you to our friend @BobBlackman for remembering Kristallnacht at #PMQs today and for his and @10DowningStreet's support for the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust and celebrating our beloved and brave survivors. pic.twitter.com/LNZOHWCfmt
— H.E.T. (@HolocaustUK) November 9, 2022
The PM said:”Antisemitism has no place in our society and we’re taking a strong lead in tackling it in all forms.
“We became the first country to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism and the government’s independent advisor on antisemitism regularly provides advice to ministers on how best to tackle this issue.
“And can I just join him, as I know the whole house will, in praising those survivors who so bravely tell their stories so we might never forget.”
Blackman, joint secretary of the backbench 1922 committee, had earlier told MPs:“Eighty-four years ago today in Germany hundreds of synagogues were destroyed, torah scrolls were desecrated, thousands of Jewish businesses and shops were destroyed as well.
“91 Jewish people were murdered and later 30,000 Jewish men were sent to the concentration camps.
“So as we commemorate Kristallnacht let us remember that it was started with anti-Jewish hatred, it became antisemitism, and it’s still prevalent in society today.
“So will my right honourable friend condemn as in all its forms, but congratulate the Holocaust survivors who give their testimony year after year and in particular congratulate the Holocaust Educational Trust for the brilliant work they do in making sure we will never ever forget what happened in the Holocaust.”
Sunak also praised Blackman for the work he had done for Holocaust awareness.
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