A Holocaust survivor has condemned a Tory MP’s “mind-boggling ignorance” after he in contrast the mass genocide of Jewish individuals throughout World War II to the COVID vaccine rollout.
Andrew Bridgen tweeted an article on Wednesday questioning the protection of the jabs, including: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”
The outstanding backbencher has now had the whip eliminated, that means he’s not a Conservative MP however will sit as an impartial.
Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor and retired immunologist, added his voice to the criticism of the remarks, which have been condemned by politicians, scientists and charities.
“People in a position of public responsibility like Andrew Bridgen owe us, the public, a debt of due diligence,” he instructed Sky News.
“Before they open their mouths about an issue like this, they should inform themselves, they should get expert advice.
“Andrew Bridgen has not achieved that, so he has failed in his responsibility to his constituents and to the British public.”
Mr Stern, 85, was born in Holland and survived Nazi focus camps at each Westerbork and Theresienstadt when he was a baby.
After the conflict he moved to England to dwell with household and skilled as a health care provider.
The retired immunologist stated: “I spend my life these days working with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the Holocaust Education Trust, the National Holocaust Centre and the Anne Frank Trust educating people about the Holocaust, but even among adults there is a mind-boggling degree of ignorance.
“Andrew Bridgen’s response displays that. He would not be saying that if he had even an affordable thought of what the Holocaust was about.”
The Holocaust is the name given to the systematic murder of six million Jewish people by the Nazi Germany regime and their allies during the Second World War.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the comments made by Mr Bridgen were “totally unacceptable” and chief whip Simon Hart took action because the remarks “crossed a line”.
Lord Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, said Mr Bridgen should be barred from standing for the Tories at the next election.
“There is not any chance that Bridgen will be allowed to face on the subsequent election,” he said.
“He can not declare that he did not realise the extent of offence that his remarks trigger.”
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Mr Bridgen is already serving a five-day suspension from the Commons for breaching lobbying rules and suggesting the woman investigating him could be swayed with a peerage.
His comment comes about a fortnight before Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.
The MP for North West Leicestershire has continually shared anti-vaccine messaging and Labour branded Mr Sunak “weak” for not disciplining him “weeks in the past”.
“To invoke the Holocaust, as he did right now, is totally shameful, but it surely ought to by no means have reached this level,” said party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds.
About 20 million lives were saved by the COVID vaccine in its first year, Imperial College London research published in June last year found.
Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said the safety and efficacy of vaccines are “examined rigorously in medical trials” while the data is subjected to challenges by independent experts, “and undergoes painstakingly detailed regulatory overview”.
“Ideological beliefs in favour or towards vaccination usually are not science and don’t have any position to play in making the perfect coverage,” he added.
Source: information.sky.com”