Stephen Morgan MP today took to the dispatch box in the House of Commons to represent his party in the Holocaust Memorial Debate.
The speech honed in on the importance of education in tackling prejudice and specifically talked of how lessons from nearly 75 years ago are very relevant today.
The Shadow Communities Minister said:
“The immeasurable tragedy of the holocaust has darkened lives on an infinite scale. We owe it to all those who suffered brutally at the hands of the Nazis to take measures to stop this from ever happening again.
Education and remembrance are the only cures for hatred and bigotry, and it falls on all our shoulders to drum out prejudice and racism whenever we encounter it.”
Mr Morgan closed the debate, a privilege reserved for frontbench Shadow Ministers and took time to thank and mention MPs from all parties who spoke in the debate.
Addressing the chamber, Mr Morgan also spoke of his pride in Portsmouth’s Jewish community and the need for all parties in parliament to look internally to eradicate hate.
Mr Morgan said:
“Our city is privileged to have one of the oldest Jewish communities in Britain, having been established in 1746. As city MP, I have a responsibility to my friends in that community to lead from the front and make sure there is zero tolerance of any form of hate crime.
With around 300 police reported incidents of hate crime taking place each day and nearly 80% of cases not resulting in further action being taken, now more than ever we must take decisive steps to drum out this rot.
I remain committed to being a strong voice on all forms of hate crime and prejudice and I will always fight for equality, justice and fairness. “
Stephen Morgan MP’s actions in parliament are not the first in his work to combat prejudice and hatred. He has signed up to the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, signed the Book of Commitment, grilled Government ministers over rises in hate crime, regularly meets with hate crime recording organisations such as CST and is hosting events in Portsmouth alongside Tell MAMA.
