Peer who compared May’s Brexit plan to Hitler urged to withdraw remark by Rob Halfon
Lib Dem Lord Roberts criticised by Jewish former Tory minister who labels his comments 'disgusting'
A peer who likened Theresa May’s approach to Brexit to that of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany should withdraw his “disgusting” remarks, a Tory former minister has said.
Robert Halfon, who is Jewish, said the comments by Liberal Democrat Lord Roberts of Llandudno were “shameful for our Parliament” and “completely unacceptable”.
Lord Roberts stoked controversy during the report stage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill on Monday night, where he pressed for strengthening Parliament’s role in the Brexit process.
He was critical of the Prime Minister’s “reluctance” to allow parliamentary involvement and claimed she wanted the Government “to be in charge”.
Mr Halfon, raising a point of order in the Commons, said: “Last night in the House of Lords, Lord Roberts said: ‘My mind went back to Berlin in March 1933 when the enabling Bill was passed in the Reichstag, which transferred the democratic right from Parliament into the hands of one man – that was the Chancellor, and his name was Adolf Hitler.’
“Now, as someone who is Jewish, and someone who is very proud of our Parliament, I find these remarks absolutely disgusting and shameful.
“It’s shameful for our country, it’s shameful for our Parliament and completely unacceptable.”
He asked the Commons Speaker John Bercow to advise him of “ways that this House can send a message to that peer that this trivialisation of evil is unacceptable and he should withdraw those remarks?”
Mr Bercow suggested he write to the peer, and said: “I’m sorry to have to say to him, but I do, that the Speaker of this House has no role in policing or overseeing utterances in the other place and I don’t think it is for me formally to take the matter forward.
“However, (Mr Halfon) received strong support from colleagues for what he said and if he wishes to write to the Noble Lord and to enclose a copy of what he has said in this chamber I think he will feel that he has done the right thing and it may elicit a response.
“I think we should always speak with great care and sensitivity in either House.”
Main Story
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
