A national Memorial to the Holocaust is relevant to everyone

The past few years have seen respect for those in authority plummet – over and again, surveys show people distrust politicians, the police, even doctors. We have also seen disagreements between people – usually, but not only, online – take place with vitriolic language, a lack of nuance or context, and those involved taking increasingly extreme positions. These situations show us how fragile our civilised society is, how vulnerable to division. 

Last week, the High Court agreed with campaigners that the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial should not go ahead in Victoria Tower Gardens. But now more than ever, we must be alert to where division can take us – where prejudice can lead, if it is not checked, if it is normalised. A national Memorial to the Holocaust will keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and show its relevance to everyone – regardless of age, ethnicity or faith. Antisemitism is growing all around the world. News bulletins provide us with daily reminders that intolerance, racism, and identity-based persecution have not gone away. So, at a time when the world is increasingly vulnerable to divisions and prejudices, we are clear that by reminding ourselves of the worst that human beings can do to each other, we can seek to prevent future atrocities.

Hearing a Holocaust survivor share their experiences is a real privilege. But the precious few remaining survivors are elderly and are not going to be with us forever.  A permanent physical Holocaust memorial represents a powerful reminder to us all – and future generations – of human capacity for unspeakable cruelty. And the proposed Learning Centre would also stand as a reminder of the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

As awareness of the Holocaust has increased over the years, museums and centres dedicated to educating people about the evils of Nazism have been built all over the world. It is a surprising omission that the UK has no such memorial in the centre of our capital city. As we mark 77 years since the end of the Holocaust, I want to know that a physical Memorial will be here in 77 years’ time, long after my lifespan has ended.