MPs sign Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in Parliament

By doing so they have pledged their commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day, honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to Holocaust survivors.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps and the end of the Second World War.

Among those to have signed the book is Pat McFadden, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East.

He said: "On this anniversary it is more important than ever to remember where hatred and racism can lead, to reject collective blame of any group of people and to remember what humanity has in common.

"I was pleased to sign the book of commitment in Parliament and I congratulate the Holocaust Educational Trust for the very important work they do in teaching young people about what happened, in organising talks by Holocaust survivors and in archiving the experiences of witnesses to this terrible period in human history."

Nicola Richards, the Conservative MP for West Bromwich East, also signed the book. She said: "Now, more than ever, we have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community and speak up loudly when we witness anti-Semitism."

Dudley North's Conservative MP Marco Longhi, said: "As the Holocaust moves from living history, to history, it becomes ever more important that we take the time to remember the six million Jewish victims and also pay tribute to the survivors."

Another signatory, Suzanne Webb, the Conservative MP for Stourbridge, is among those who are planning to join a commemoration event at Dudley College today.

She said: "We must never forget the senseless murder of millions of Jewish people by the Nazis.

"Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for the people of Stourbridge to reflect on the darkest times of European history.

"It is also an occasion to remember those who risked their lives to save others during the Holocaust, such as Frank Foley, whom retired to Stourbridge and whose selfless acts helped to save thousands of families.

"As the Holocaust moves from living history to history, we must make sure that those who were persecuted are remembered and survivors are honoured. I will be joining the commemorations on Friday at the Dudley Borough Commemoration event."

Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "As the Holocaust moves further into history, it falls on all of us to ensure that their stories and the stories of the six million Jewish men, women and children brutally murdered by the Nazis, are never forgotten.

"We all have a duty to remember the Holocaust and to stand up against anti-Semitism and hate, now more than ever."

Today's memorial event in Dudley will feature a talk by Holocaust survivor Mindu Hornick, who was awarded an MBE for Holocaust education and commemoration in this year’s New Year’s Honours List.

On Sunday the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Dr Ann Jaron, will talk about her Polish grandfather who was murdered at Auschwitz at a special Holocaust memorial event at the Highfields Memorial Gardens in West Bromwich.

A commemoration service will be held at the Cenotaph in Wolverhampton on Monday, led by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Claire Darke.