Esther McVey doubles down on ‘repugnant’ Holocaust smoking ban comparison
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Conservative MP Esther McVey has reaffirmed her support for a controversial Tweet that seemed to draw a parallel between Labour's suggested smoking ban and the Holocaust.
A prominent Jewish organization has been at the forefront of the backlash against the ex-minister's social media post, labeling it as "disgusting".
In the blog post, the ex-television host transcribed the famous 1946 poem, First They Came, by German theologian Martin Niemoller. The poem serves as a reminder of how individuals who choose to remain silent and do nothing during times of increasing Nazi persecution end up contributing to the horrific events of the Holocaust.
Ms Mcvey then said: "Important words about Starmer's ban on smoking."
However, despite facing a lot of criticism and requests to remove the post on X (formerly Twitter), Ms. McVey has chosen not to do so. Instead, she reiterated her controversial opinions during an interview on LBC.
Ms McVey refuted the allegation that she equated the smoking prohibition to the Holocaust.
During her interview with Nick Ferrari, she explained that she referenced a poem about the Holocaust. She chose to do this because the poem carries a powerful message about the significance of defending the freedoms of others. It was within this context that she decided to use it.
No one is saying that the prohibition of smoking outside pubs is comparable to the atrocities committed against the Jews by the Nazis. However, it is a comparison that illustrates how those who limit freedoms often begin with a seemingly less controversial target before expanding their restrictions.
Critiquing the new Labour government, she expressed her concerns, stating, "The actions of this new socialist government should be causing alarm among the public."
Ms McVey is supporting conservative former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick in the Conservative Party leadership contest and was recently spotted introducing him at his official campaign kick-off in Newark.
Mr Jenrick has frequently addressed concerns regarding antisemitism and the Holocaust.
She said that she didn't mean to offend anyone, but she also wouldn't remove the Tweet.
One of the many people who criticized the post was the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who called her comment "incredibly insensitive".
In a message, the group stated: "Using Martin Niemoller's powerful poem about the atrocities of the Nazis to discuss a possible smoking prohibition is thoughtless and disgusting."
We urge the MP for Tatton to remove her tweet and make amends for this incredibly insensitive comparison.
Israeli author and creator of Tel-Aviv Institute, Hen Mazzig, pointed out: "A British parliament member is comparing a smoking ban to the genocide of Jews."
If this was just a regular social media post, I would laugh at it and keep scrolling. However, this individual holds an important role in shaping national policies, yet they seem unable to distinguish between public health measures and the significant genocide that occurred in history. Smoking has the potential to be deadly, but one's religion or heritage should not be a reason for harm.
