A Conservative peer faces accusations of employing anti-Semitic language following a statement in the House of Lords, suggesting that Jewish individuals should fund a proposed Holocaust memorial in London because of their significant financial resources.
Archie Hamilton, a former minister under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher and John Major who was granted peerage in 2005, came under scrutiny following a debate regarding the placement of the memorial and educational centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, adjacent to the UK parliament.
In his remarks, Lord Hamilton argued that the park, where the memorial is to be situated, is too small for the project. He questioned why the government should committed limited taxpayer funds to such an initiative, proposing instead that the British Jewish community, known for its wealth and many educational charities, should finance their own memorial.
Ian Austin, a crossbench peer and former Labour MP, countered that the memorial serves as a tribute not just for the Jewish community but “for everybody.” Hamilton rebutted this point, asserting that the driving force behind the memorial was the Jewish people, who he suggested have ample resources to fund it.
Hamilton also mentioned having “plenty of Jewish blood” and being a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel, adding to his defense.
Following the debate, Lord Austin termed Hamilton’s comments as “completely unacceptable,” urging the Conservatives to take action. Austin emphasized the shock of hearing such remarks during a Holocaust-related discussion, highlighting the ongoing issue of anti-Semitism, including within parliamentary contexts, and underscoring the necessity for a Holocaust memorial addressing anti-Jewish prejudice.
Danny Stone, CEO of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, criticized Hamilton’s statements as ill-judged, racist, and misleading, reflecting a lack of understanding of the Jewish community and the purpose of the Holocaust memorial. Stone also expressed disappointment that such views went unchallenged by those leading the discussion and pledged to work with parliamentarians to ensure such rhetoric is not left unaddressed.
Hamilton later issued a formal apology, stating that his comments were not intended to be anti-Semitic, and expressing a commitment to meet with Jewish community groups to better understand how to address issues affecting British Jews.
The proposed site for the memorial and education centre gained approval in 2021 after a public inquiry, eight years after the initial suggest by David Cameron’s government. While the decision received support from many Jewish organizations, there were concerns about using a relatively small green space for what some estimate as a £190 million project, including opposition from crossbench peer Ruth Deech whose father was a Nazi refugee.
Deech voiced her concerns about the financial implications of the project during the same Lords debate as Hamilton, calling for greater fiscal responsibility.
The Conservative party was contacted for comment on the controversy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/05/conservative-peer-accused-of-using-antisemitic-tropes-in-lords-debate
