A Conservative peer has sparked anger after suggested the Jewish community which has”an awful lot of money” should fund a Holocaust Memorial in Westminster.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom added “the driving forces behind putting up this memorial are the Jewish people in this country.”
He continued:”They are people who have property everywhere.”
A spokesperson for the Tories later said the party “utterly condemned” the peers remarks.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom told a Lords Grand Committee:”I do not understand why the Government have volunteered taxpayers’ money, when there is so little of it, to finance this.
“It has a lot of education charities that would contribute towards this.
“I do not understand why they should not pay for their own memorial. ”
In further incendiary comments Hamilton added “the driving forces behind putting up this memorial are the Jewish people in this country.”
He continued:”They are people who have property everywhere. I do not see why they should not fund it.
“I just do not understand why the British taxpayer should be asked to pay for this when there is quite clearly a tremendous shortage of taxpayers’ money to go around. The whole thing is very strapped. I would have thought that this could be financed by individuals, Jewish charities and so forth that would be happy to contribute to it. I am just amazed.”
He added:”I have plenty of Jewish blood, and I am a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel.”
Lord Finkelstein condemned the remarks made by his Conservative colleague adding:”I apologise for intervening, but I really cannot leave that comment on its own.
“The noble Lord cannot stand up here and say, “The Jews want the Holocaust memorial, and they ought to pay for it”. The Holocaust is not something that is just about the Jews.
Non-affiliated peer Lord Austin intervened adding:”My Lords, this is not a memorial for the Jewish community.”
Tueday’s session was held to discuss expenditure relating to a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
