Esther McVey Criticized for Holocaust Poem Use

Conservative MP Esther McVey has faced severe backlash for likening a proposed smoking ban by Labour leader Keir Starmer to the Holocaust, using Martin Niemoller's poem 'First They Came' in her social media post. The Board of Deputies of British Jews condemned her remarks as 'repugnant' and 'breathtakingly thoughtless,' urging her to apologize and delete the tweet. Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized her for failing to recognize the gravity of her comparison, while Rabbi David Mason from the Jewish Council for Racial Equality labeled her comments as 'utterly tasteless'. Despite the criticism, McVey defended her statement, insisting that no equivalence was intended and that she would not be 'bullied' into removing her post. The controversy has sparked widespread condemnation across political lines, with calls for Tory leader Rishi Sunak to address McVey's remarks. McVey's tweet remains active as she continues to assert her position on the matter.