UK Conservative Dominic Raab called out the opposition Labour Party’s entrenched anti-Semitism on Monday by using the example of his own father’s escape from the Holocaust and the anti-Jewish hatred generated by Nazism.
Speaking at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham, the Brexit secretary took aim at Labour’s welcome for left-wing extremists and the stain of Jewish hate they generate within the membership.
Mr. Raab highlighted the left’s love of intimidation coupled with ideological fanaticism and scapegoating, “especially against Jews.”
He pointed to the party’s “cosying up to Holocaust deniers and terrorists” and the “casual equation of Jews with the Israeli government” as reasons why Labour could never be trusted with government.
Then Mr. Raab told his own family’s story in escaping the Holocaust after the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia and finding sanctuary in a tolerant and open Britain.
His words drew a standing ovation from attendees:
One Jewish family arrived in England with a little boy called Peter. He was six years old and he spoke no English.
That little boy grew up knowing that his grandmother, grandfather, most of his relatives…
The loved ones left behind…
Had been systematically murdered for no other reason than that they were Jews.
That little boy learnt English.
He got into a Grammar School.
And grasped the opportunities and embraced the tolerance that our great country offers.
He became a food-manager at Marks and Spencer…
And married a clothes buyer…
A Church of England girl from Bromley.
But he never forgot what had happened to his family.
That little boy was my father.
And I will honour his memory by fighting the scourge of anti-Semitism and racism until my last breath.
He also used his speech to repeat his backing for Theresa May’s Brexit plan – known as Chequers – which has received criticism from both Remainers and Leavers.
“Our proposals would deliver a historic agreement that provides a roadmap out of the EU and a final deal that will be good for the whole country,” Mr Raab said.
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