Britain's new Labour government announced on Wednesday its intention to construct a Holocaust memorial and learning center adjacent to the Houses of Parliament in London, fulfilling a long-standing commitment that has been marred by controversy. Initially proposed nearly a decade ago under the previous Conservative administration, the memorial aims to honor the memory of the over six million Jews and other victims murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is set to advance the Holocaust Memorial Bill, which will authorize the funding for the project and override a 1900 law that restricts the proposed site from being used for anything other than a public garden. "We must do everything possible to ensure that the Holocaust is never forgotten and to combat anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and prejudice in our society," the government stated in a briefing document accompanying the King's Speech, outlining its legislative agenda.
Last year marked the worst year for anti-Semitism in Britain since records began in 1984, with thousands of incidents reported following the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October, according to a Jewish advisory body. Labour's commitment to the memorial also follows Starmer's efforts to eradicate anti-Semitism within his party, after a 2020 report uncovered significant shortcomings in how it handled complaints of anti-Jewish discrimination. Starmer has also defended Israel's right to self-defense in the Gaza conflict, which has upset some of Labour's Muslim supporters.
The original 2015 proposal called for a "striking and prominent" national memorial and a "world-class learning center," with Victoria Tower Gardens, just south of Parliament, identified as the location for the memorial. However, it has encountered legal challenges regarding its location and criticism over its design, purpose, and costs, including from Holocaust survivors and their families. Some critics have compared the design, featuring nearly two dozen tall bronze "fins" symbolizing the countries with Jewish communities destroyed by the Holocaust, to a "toast rack," while others argue it would obstruct views of Parliament from the gardens.
