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New Statesman
30-07-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Letter of the week: Judicial review
Photo by Kunst and Scheidulin / Alamy Stock Photo As a former judicial colleague of Jonathan Sumption, I have always had great respect for his expertise as a historian and international lawyer. I found his article on Israel's conduct of the conflict in Gaza as compelling as it was deeply disturbing (Cover Story, 18 July). Baroness Deech's critical response in your latest edition seemed surprisingly aggressive (Correspondence, 25 July). More importantly, it failed entirely to engage with the substance of his analysis of the current situation, or even to offer a note of compassion for the horrific suffering of thousands of ordinary Palestinians of which we read every day. Another of your correspondents suggests that you give equal prominence to 'someone with similar qualifications putting forward the Israeli side of the argument'. That would be a valuable exercise if such a person could be found. Perhaps Baroness Deech has some suggestions. As Jonathan says, we are entitled to ask 'what Israel's defenders would regard as unacceptable, if the current level of Israeli violence in Gaza is not enough'. Robert Carnwath, former Supreme Court justice Independent witnesses According to Baroness Deech (Correspondence, 25 July) the Guide to Judicial Conduct calls on retired judges to be circumspect in voicing controversial opinions. This is wrong for two reasons. First, the guide says no such thing. It states 'there is no prohibition on retired judges… [from] engaging in political activity and wider public debate', so long as they do nothing to tarnish the reputation of the judiciary and the perception of its independence. Second, claiming the Israeli government is guilty of war crimes is hardly controversial. We are all witnesses to the mass killing, maiming and starvation of citizens in Gaza. Numerous reputable NGOs and experts have concluded that Israel is committing genocide. Joel Donovan KC, London W4 Zero imagination Gary Smith's position on green energy (Interview, 25 July) seemed intransigent and unimaginative. There will be no oil or gas jobs in the North Sea in 30 years' time, for the simple reason that there will be no oil or gas left. A transition is needed, as Smith admits, yet he fails to acknowledge net-zero policies will provide it. As the GMB's general secretary, Smith should see the transformative potential in green jobs for his members. Freddie Russell, aged 17, East Sussex Leavers of the left Oliver Eagleton criticises the government for a foreign policy that is too closely aligned with that of the US (The NS Essay, 25 July). It is bizarre to hear this from a Lexiteer. Many Remain supporters warned that erecting barriers between the UK and continental Europe would leave us a vassal of the US. Keir Starmer and his colleagues have made progress in rebuilding economic and security ties with our European allies, but much of the damage of Brexit remains. I would love to hear just one left-wing Brexit supporter take some responsibility for the dire situation we're in. Madeline Thompson, Cambridge Basta Normally I welcome articles on Europe, but this time Italy has had a raw deal (Vanity Fair, 25 July). Brits appreciative of Italian beauty and culture have been inhabiting Tuscany for centuries longer than Sting, Jamie Oliver and New Labour. If you're going to be sour, it's best to get the facts right. The airline is called 'Alitalia': it's a clever play on all' Italia (meaning 'to Italy') and ali Italia (Italian wings). And whatever Wikipedia says, parte means 'part' more often than 'side', but above all, the self-definition of the fascist journalist Malaparte is the obverse of Bonaparte. Perhaps Finn McRedmond would enjoy his Maledetti Toscani (Damned Tuscans)? Ann Lawson Lucas, Beverley, West Yorkshire Own goal Nicholas Lezard's anecdote about his lady-friend's revelation (Down and Out, 25 July) put me in mind of the time I took a girlfriend to Selhurst Park to see Crystal Palace play. She watched the teams warm up at opposite ends of the pitch. Then, five minutes into the match, she asked: 'Why don't they have a ball each so that they don't have to keep fighting for that one?' Clive Collins, Suffolk In sympathy My heart goes out to Hannah Barnes (Out of the Ordinary, 25 July). I hope writing that heart-wrenching column helped a tiny bit. I sometimes think the world is divided between those who have experienced great loss and those who have yet to do so. Margaret Bluman, London N19 Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Write to letters@ We reserve the right to edit letters [See also: One year on, tensions still circle Britain's asylum-seeker hotels] Related
North Wales Chronicle
17-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Holocaust memorial critics warn of creating ‘monument to death and the Nazis'
Critics of the controversial scheme argue it is not too late to 'tweak' the 'botched' proposals and have vowed to continue their fight. Concerns were again raised at Westminster as legislation paving the way for the delayed development took a further step forward. The chosen site in Victoria Tower Gardens, located immediately adjacent to Parliament, has been contentious, with disquiet over the loss of green space in central London, the design of the scheme and security implications. A main obstacle to supporters was a 1900 law protecting the small triangular Grade II-listed park, which led to the quashing of planning permission after a legal battle. To overcome this, the Labour Government reintroduced the Holocaust Memorial Bill, proposed by the previous Tory administration. It will both authorise expenditure on the construction, maintenance and operation of the memorial and learning centre, and also disapply sections of the 1900 Act, removing the legal obstacle that has prevented the project from going ahead. The Bill received its third reading in the Lords on Tuesday and now goes to the Commons for MPs to consider a single change made by peers, making clear the sole purpose of the learning centre 'must be the provision of education about the Holocaust and antisemitism'. Independent crossbencher Baroness Deech, who lost her grandparents in the Holocaust, has been a leading critic of the proposed scheme. She said: 'Once we are free of the fears of this Government that any alternative is somehow giving in to the antisemitism of which the party was accused a few years ago – that is simply not the case – we will go forward with a planning process that might yet rescue this botched plan. 'It is not too late to tweak it and build not a monument to death and the Nazis but one dedicated to the need to preserve and understand Jewish life. 'At a time when a new version of the desire to destroy Jewish life in the Middle East and elsewhere is playing out as we speak, we could have a learning centre that extended to the achievement of the survivors of the Holocaust in building what was a safe haven for Jews, a land of their own. 'Is it not ironic that this Government are so respectful of six million dead but so cavalier about the fate of seven million of their descendants in Israel right now?' She added: 'We who understand what is at stake will continue to press our case. The fight is not over.' Liberal Democrat Baroness Walmsley said: 'I thank all those who pointed out the risks and drawbacks of the choice the Government have made about the location of the learning centre and express a hope that, on reflection, the Government may in time make a different choice.' Tory former minister Lord Robathan said: 'As somebody who cares hugely about the Jewish Holocaust and the ghastly thing it is, the site for the learning centre is wrong. 'It will be cramped and is not worthy of what we wish to commemorate. 'I say to the minister and others that back this, I personally don't believe it will be built, because there are going to be so many problems once you start destroying Victoria Gardens to do this.' Independent crossbencher Lord Inglewood, who is president of Historic Buildings & Places, said: 'I have to say to the House that, the more the Bill progressed, the more I became convinced that this proposal was overdevelopment and in the wrong place. 'I do not wish to say any more, other than, with sadness, that this Bill, the Holocaust Memorial Bill, will no doubt shortly be going on the statute. In my view it is not properly named. It is the Victoria Tower Gardens Destruction Bill.' Backing the project, Tory shadow communities minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, said: 'We have made a solemn commitment never to forget the horrors of the Holocaust and to work to ensure that it will never happen again. 'Holocaust education is an essential part of our efforts to make good on those promises. 'It has been the policy of successive Conservative governments that we need a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre.' Communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said: 'Through this Bill, the Government are moving a step closer to delivering on the long-standing commitment to build a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre next to Parliament, where it rightly belongs.' He added: 'I think there are still some outstanding concerns, but let me reassure members who have them that, subject to the passage of the Bill in the other House and on to the statute book, there will be a process for people to put their representations, views and ideas forward about prospective future planning.'
Leader Live
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Holocaust memorial critics warn of creating ‘monument to death and the Nazis'
Critics of the controversial scheme argue it is not too late to 'tweak' the 'botched' proposals and have vowed to continue their fight. Concerns were again raised at Westminster as legislation paving the way for the delayed development took a further step forward. The chosen site in Victoria Tower Gardens, located immediately adjacent to Parliament, has been contentious, with disquiet over the loss of green space in central London, the design of the scheme and security implications. A main obstacle to supporters was a 1900 law protecting the small triangular Grade II-listed park, which led to the quashing of planning permission after a legal battle. To overcome this, the Labour Government reintroduced the Holocaust Memorial Bill, proposed by the previous Tory administration. It will both authorise expenditure on the construction, maintenance and operation of the memorial and learning centre, and also disapply sections of the 1900 Act, removing the legal obstacle that has prevented the project from going ahead. The Bill received its third reading in the Lords on Tuesday and now goes to the Commons for MPs to consider a single change made by peers, making clear the sole purpose of the learning centre 'must be the provision of education about the Holocaust and antisemitism'. Independent crossbencher Baroness Deech, who lost her grandparents in the Holocaust, has been a leading critic of the proposed scheme. She said: 'Once we are free of the fears of this Government that any alternative is somehow giving in to the antisemitism of which the party was accused a few years ago – that is simply not the case – we will go forward with a planning process that might yet rescue this botched plan. 'It is not too late to tweak it and build not a monument to death and the Nazis but one dedicated to the need to preserve and understand Jewish life. 'At a time when a new version of the desire to destroy Jewish life in the Middle East and elsewhere is playing out as we speak, we could have a learning centre that extended to the achievement of the survivors of the Holocaust in building what was a safe haven for Jews, a land of their own. 'Is it not ironic that this Government are so respectful of six million dead but so cavalier about the fate of seven million of their descendants in Israel right now?' She added: 'We who understand what is at stake will continue to press our case. The fight is not over.' Liberal Democrat Baroness Walmsley said: 'I thank all those who pointed out the risks and drawbacks of the choice the Government have made about the location of the learning centre and express a hope that, on reflection, the Government may in time make a different choice.' Tory former minister Lord Robathan said: 'As somebody who cares hugely about the Jewish Holocaust and the ghastly thing it is, the site for the learning centre is wrong. 'It will be cramped and is not worthy of what we wish to commemorate. 'I say to the minister and others that back this, I personally don't believe it will be built, because there are going to be so many problems once you start destroying Victoria Gardens to do this.' Independent crossbencher Lord Inglewood, who is president of Historic Buildings & Places, said: 'I have to say to the House that, the more the Bill progressed, the more I became convinced that this proposal was overdevelopment and in the wrong place. 'I do not wish to say any more, other than, with sadness, that this Bill, the Holocaust Memorial Bill, will no doubt shortly be going on the statute. In my view it is not properly named. It is the Victoria Tower Gardens Destruction Bill.' Backing the project, Tory shadow communities minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, said: 'We have made a solemn commitment never to forget the horrors of the Holocaust and to work to ensure that it will never happen again. 'Holocaust education is an essential part of our efforts to make good on those promises. 'It has been the policy of successive Conservative governments that we need a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre.' Communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said: 'Through this Bill, the Government are moving a step closer to delivering on the long-standing commitment to build a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre next to Parliament, where it rightly belongs.' He added: 'I think there are still some outstanding concerns, but let me reassure members who have them that, subject to the passage of the Bill in the other House and on to the statute book, there will be a process for people to put their representations, views and ideas forward about prospective future planning.'
South Wales Argus
17-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Holocaust memorial critics warn of creating ‘monument to death and the Nazis'
Critics of the controversial scheme argue it is not too late to 'tweak' the 'botched' proposals and have vowed to continue their fight. Concerns were again raised at Westminster as legislation paving the way for the delayed development took a further step forward. The chosen site in Victoria Tower Gardens, located immediately adjacent to Parliament, has been contentious, with disquiet over the loss of green space in central London, the design of the scheme and security implications. A main obstacle to supporters was a 1900 law protecting the small triangular Grade II-listed park, which led to the quashing of planning permission after a legal battle. To overcome this, the Labour Government reintroduced the Holocaust Memorial Bill, proposed by the previous Tory administration. It will both authorise expenditure on the construction, maintenance and operation of the memorial and learning centre, and also disapply sections of the 1900 Act, removing the legal obstacle that has prevented the project from going ahead. The Bill received its third reading in the Lords on Tuesday and now goes to the Commons for MPs to consider a single change made by peers, making clear the sole purpose of the learning centre 'must be the provision of education about the Holocaust and antisemitism'. Independent crossbencher Baroness Deech, who lost her grandparents in the Holocaust, has been a leading critic of the proposed scheme. She said: 'Once we are free of the fears of this Government that any alternative is somehow giving in to the antisemitism of which the party was accused a few years ago – that is simply not the case – we will go forward with a planning process that might yet rescue this botched plan. 'It is not too late to tweak it and build not a monument to death and the Nazis but one dedicated to the need to preserve and understand Jewish life. 'At a time when a new version of the desire to destroy Jewish life in the Middle East and elsewhere is playing out as we speak, we could have a learning centre that extended to the achievement of the survivors of the Holocaust in building what was a safe haven for Jews, a land of their own. 'Is it not ironic that this Government are so respectful of six million dead but so cavalier about the fate of seven million of their descendants in Israel right now?' She added: 'We who understand what is at stake will continue to press our case. The fight is not over.' Liberal Democrat Baroness Walmsley said: 'I thank all those who pointed out the risks and drawbacks of the choice the Government have made about the location of the learning centre and express a hope that, on reflection, the Government may in time make a different choice.' Tory former minister Lord Robathan said: 'As somebody who cares hugely about the Jewish Holocaust and the ghastly thing it is, the site for the learning centre is wrong. 'It will be cramped and is not worthy of what we wish to commemorate. 'I say to the minister and others that back this, I personally don't believe it will be built, because there are going to be so many problems once you start destroying Victoria Gardens to do this.' Independent crossbencher Lord Inglewood, who is president of Historic Buildings & Places, said: 'I have to say to the House that, the more the Bill progressed, the more I became convinced that this proposal was overdevelopment and in the wrong place. 'I do not wish to say any more, other than, with sadness, that this Bill, the Holocaust Memorial Bill, will no doubt shortly be going on the statute. In my view it is not properly named. It is the Victoria Tower Gardens Destruction Bill.' Backing the project, Tory shadow communities minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, said: 'We have made a solemn commitment never to forget the horrors of the Holocaust and to work to ensure that it will never happen again. 'Holocaust education is an essential part of our efforts to make good on those promises. 'It has been the policy of successive Conservative governments that we need a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre.' Communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said: 'Through this Bill, the Government are moving a step closer to delivering on the long-standing commitment to build a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre next to Parliament, where it rightly belongs.' He added: 'I think there are still some outstanding concerns, but let me reassure members who have them that, subject to the passage of the Bill in the other House and on to the statute book, there will be a process for people to put their representations, views and ideas forward about prospective future planning.'
South Wales Guardian
17-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Holocaust memorial critics warn of creating ‘monument to death and the Nazis'
Critics of the controversial scheme argue it is not too late to 'tweak' the 'botched' proposals and have vowed to continue their fight. Concerns were again raised at Westminster as legislation paving the way for the delayed development took a further step forward. The chosen site in Victoria Tower Gardens, located immediately adjacent to Parliament, has been contentious, with disquiet over the loss of green space in central London, the design of the scheme and security implications. A main obstacle to supporters was a 1900 law protecting the small triangular Grade II-listed park, which led to the quashing of planning permission after a legal battle. To overcome this, the Labour Government reintroduced the Holocaust Memorial Bill, proposed by the previous Tory administration. It will both authorise expenditure on the construction, maintenance and operation of the memorial and learning centre, and also disapply sections of the 1900 Act, removing the legal obstacle that has prevented the project from going ahead. The Bill received its third reading in the Lords on Tuesday and now goes to the Commons for MPs to consider a single change made by peers, making clear the sole purpose of the learning centre 'must be the provision of education about the Holocaust and antisemitism'. Independent crossbencher Baroness Deech, who lost her grandparents in the Holocaust, has been a leading critic of the proposed scheme. She said: 'Once we are free of the fears of this Government that any alternative is somehow giving in to the antisemitism of which the party was accused a few years ago – that is simply not the case – we will go forward with a planning process that might yet rescue this botched plan. 'It is not too late to tweak it and build not a monument to death and the Nazis but one dedicated to the need to preserve and understand Jewish life. 'At a time when a new version of the desire to destroy Jewish life in the Middle East and elsewhere is playing out as we speak, we could have a learning centre that extended to the achievement of the survivors of the Holocaust in building what was a safe haven for Jews, a land of their own. 'Is it not ironic that this Government are so respectful of six million dead but so cavalier about the fate of seven million of their descendants in Israel right now?' She added: 'We who understand what is at stake will continue to press our case. The fight is not over.' Liberal Democrat Baroness Walmsley said: 'I thank all those who pointed out the risks and drawbacks of the choice the Government have made about the location of the learning centre and express a hope that, on reflection, the Government may in time make a different choice.' Tory former minister Lord Robathan said: 'As somebody who cares hugely about the Jewish Holocaust and the ghastly thing it is, the site for the learning centre is wrong. 'It will be cramped and is not worthy of what we wish to commemorate. 'I say to the minister and others that back this, I personally don't believe it will be built, because there are going to be so many problems once you start destroying Victoria Gardens to do this.' Independent crossbencher Lord Inglewood, who is president of Historic Buildings & Places, said: 'I have to say to the House that, the more the Bill progressed, the more I became convinced that this proposal was overdevelopment and in the wrong place. 'I do not wish to say any more, other than, with sadness, that this Bill, the Holocaust Memorial Bill, will no doubt shortly be going on the statute. In my view it is not properly named. It is the Victoria Tower Gardens Destruction Bill.' Backing the project, Tory shadow communities minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, said: 'We have made a solemn commitment never to forget the horrors of the Holocaust and to work to ensure that it will never happen again. 'Holocaust education is an essential part of our efforts to make good on those promises. 'It has been the policy of successive Conservative governments that we need a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre.' Communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said: 'Through this Bill, the Government are moving a step closer to delivering on the long-standing commitment to build a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre next to Parliament, where it rightly belongs.' He added: 'I think there are still some outstanding concerns, but let me reassure members who have them that, subject to the passage of the Bill in the other House and on to the statute book, there will be a process for people to put their representations, views and ideas forward about prospective future planning.'
