Esther McVey Criticized for Holocaust Tweet

Tory MP Esther McVey faced widespread backlash after using Martin Niemöller’s Holocaust poem 'First They Came' to criticize Labour's proposed outdoor smoking ban. McVey's tweet, which she described as 'pertinent', was condemned by Jewish groups and public figures as 'repugnant' and 'breathtakingly thoughtless'. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and other commentators called for her to delete the tweet and apologize. McVey defended her post, claiming it was an analogy and refused to remove it, asserting she would not be bullied. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and other political figures, including Labour Party chair Ellie Reeve, also criticized McVey's remarks, highlighting previous similar bans proposed by her own party. The controversy has sparked a broader debate on public health policies and individual freedoms.