Eighty years on from Auschwitz liberation, Britain must do one thing to mean ‘Never Again’

There is a troubling phenomenon in modern Britain, one that seems to rear its head with disquieting regularity as we approach Holocaust Memorial Day.

For a nation that prides itself on decency and fair play, the murmurs that surround this solemn day—calls to “reassess,” to “contextualise,” or to diminish its importance—are deeply unsettling.

These whispers, emboldened in some circles, betray an alarming indifference to memory and a reluctance to confront the horrors of our shared history.

It is this growing apathy, this deliberate erosion of historical truth, that has led We Believe in (WBII) to call for Holocaust Memorial Day to be enshrined in British law.

Some may question the necessity of such legislation. After all, the day has been recognised since 2001. But history has taught us that memory, left unprotected, is vulnerable to manipulation, distortion, and ultimately, disappearance.

The Holocaust was not just an event—it was a rupture in the very fabric of civilisation. Six million Jews were murdered in the most systematic act of hatred the world has ever seen.

Alongside them, Roma, disabled individuals, LGBTQ+ people, and others deemed “undesirable” by the Nazi regime were also slaughtered.

This atrocity demands more than an annual acknowledgment; it requires a robust commitment to remembrance, not only for those who perished but for the sake of humanity itself.

Why legislate? Because complacency is the enemy of vigilance. Antisemitic incidents in Britain hit record highs last year, fuelled by toxic narratives that flourish in the dark corners of the internet and spill into mainstream discourse.

Holocaust denial, once the preserve of crackpots, is now a well-funded, well-organised industry of disinformation. It seeks not only to erase the past but to legitimise hatred in the present.

To safeguard the future, we must anchor Holocaust Memorial Day in law, making it an unassailable fixture of Britain’s national consciousness. Opponents of such legislation may dismiss it as unnecessary symbolism.

But symbols matter. They are the architecture of our collective identity, the signposts that guide our moral compass. A legally enshrined Holocaust Memorial Day would send an unequivocal message: that Britain stands against the tides of denial and distortion, that it values truth over convenience, and that it refuses to allow the lessons of the Holocaust to be forgotten.

This is not solely a Jewish issue. The lessons of the Holocaust resonate far beyond the Jewish community. It was, and remains, a chilling reminder of how prejudice, unchecked, can metastasise into atrocity.

To remember the Holocaust is to remember the fragility of human decency. It is to acknowledge that hatred, left unchallenged, can erode the foundations of civilised society.

For Britain, a nation that played a pivotal role in defeating Nazi tyranny, remembrance is not just a moral obligation but a celebration of its finest hour.

To enshrine Holocaust Memorial Day in law is to reaffirm the values that defined Britain during its darkest and most heroic chapter: justice, courage, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity.

Yet remembrance is not only about the past; it is a tool for building a better future.

Education is at the heart of this initiative. When we teach our children about the Holocaust, we are not simply recounting history; we are arming them with the tools to recognise and resist prejudice in all its forms.

A nation that remembers is a nation that learns. It is no coincidence that those who seek to undermine Holocaust remembrance are often the same voices that perpetuate division and bigotry.

By legislating Holocaust Memorial Day, Britain would be making a powerful statement about the kind of society it aspires to be: one that values diversity, cherishes truth, and stands resolutely against hatred.

There is also a pragmatic argument to be made. Holocaust denial and distortion are not just moral failings; they are threats to social cohesion. In an age of increasing polarisation, shared acts of remembrance can serve as a unifying force.

They remind us of our common humanity, our shared vulnerability, and our collective responsibility to protect one another from the forces of hatred.

By anchoring Holocaust Memorial Day in law, Britain would be taking a concrete step towards fostering a more inclusive, compassionate society. Critics might argue that legislating remembrance risks politicising it.

But the Holocaust is already politicised—by deniers, by extremists, and by those who seek to co-opt its memory for nefarious ends. Legislation would provide a safeguard against such abuses, ensuring that Holocaust Memorial Day remains a day of reflection, education, and unity, free from the distortions of ideological opportunism.

One must also consider the international implications. In a world where far-right movements are on the rise and antisemitism is resurgent, Britain has an opportunity to lead by example.

Enshrining Holocaust Memorial Day in law would position the UK as a global champion of memory and justice, a nation unafraid to confront the past in order to build a brighter future. The stakes could not be higher. We are at a crossroads.

To neglect the memory of the Holocaust is to invite the return of its horrors, not in the same form but in ways that are insidious and devastating nonetheless. To remember is to resist. To forget is to capitulate.

WBII’s call to enshrine Holocaust Memorial Day in law is not just a policy recommendation; it is a moral imperative. It is a call to arms for all who value truth, justice, and humanity.

It is an opportunity for Britain to reaffirm its commitment to the values that define its character and to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are not lost to the passage of time.

As we emerge from Holocaust Memorial Day, let us not be content with platitudes. Let us act.

Let us ensure that this day—and all that it represents—is preserved, protected, and passed on to future generations. For in the act of remembrance lies the hope of redemption, the promise of progress, and the enduring strength of humanity.