Eastbourne's Conservative MP, Caroline Ansell, has today called on Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey to discipline one of his Eastbourne councillors for holocaust distortion after they likened the “tagging of migrants” with a Star of David being forced on Jewish people in Nazi Germany.
Councillor Helen Burton posted the comments on her Facebook page in a move that has been condemned by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) and Eastbourne resident and holocaust survivor Dorit Oliver-Wolff BEM. In the June 18 post she said: “Tories now want to electronically tag migrants. Anyone else reminded of the (yellow star emoji) the Jewish Community was forced to wear by the Nazis?
Caroline contacted the councillor to ask her to take the post down saying: “This is a clear example of a growing tendency of Holocaust Distortion which trivialises the Holocaust. The systematic classification, dehumanising and murder of six million Jews is a crime beyond comparison. It would be better to pursue your criticism of the government using less inflammatory language.”
However, Ms Burton refused.
"As well as offensive, Councillor Burton’s comments are also inaccurate and misleading,” said Caroline.
“The use of electronic monitoring is very limited. It is used where there is a risk of deportation orders being evaded, in the case of foreign national offenders being one such example. I regret this intervention has to be used at all but it is not standard practice applied routinely to all “migrants” as suggested by Councillor Burton."
The councillor’s comment has been roundly criticised by the HET.
A spokesperson said: “The councillor should be reported to their party. This sort of Holocaust comparison is unnecessary, offensive and does constitute distortion.
“Sadly, we are seeing more and more of this in both politics and wider society.”
Mrs Woolf, who has been honoured by the Queen for all her years telling young people about her experiences during the Holocaust, said she was contacted by Ms Burton on this issue of tags.
"As an active advocate for human rights I am against discrimination of any sort. And I do not agree that humans should be tagged unless they are a danger to others. Be it refugees or UK citizens.
"However I am really upset to have been misinformed by Helen by saying all refugees will be electronically tagged. To use the comparison with the Yellow star of David is very wrong and insulting to the crime that the Jewish people had to suffer.
"False and misleading information is very dangerous. I will not support or be part of any false and misleading action. Spreading wrong information is very dangerous and should not be used by a leading person for self promotion."
Caroline said: “I was appalled to see the Holocaust used for political campaigning by Helen Burton and I contacted her privately - and the Council Leader too - asking her to take the offending post down, but to no avail. So now, as advised by the Trust, I appeal to her party and its leader.
"I hope Ed will set this right and condemn this conduct and take action.”
Conservative Council Group Leader Robert Smart said, “Councillor Burton’s comment brings this council into disrepute and it was wrong of councillor Tutt to simply stand by.
“Clearly there is a need for awareness training here and an acknowledgement by the council that this conduct is harmful and totally unacceptable.”
