Esther McVey has been condemned for apparently comparing the government’s plans to extend the smoking ban with Nazi Germany.
The former Tory cabinet minister posted a famous poem about the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews on X.
The poem, written in 1946 by German pastor Martin Niemoller, says: “First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.
“Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Below it, the MP for Tatton wrote: “Pertinent words re Starmer’s smoking ban.”
First they came for the Communists⁰And I did not speak out
Because I was not a communist
Then they came for the Jews⁰And I did not speak out⁰Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me⁰And there was no one left⁰To speak out for mePertinent words re Starmer’s smoking ban
— Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) August 29, 2024
The criticism of McVey’s post was led by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which said: “The use of Martin Neimoller’s poem about the horrors of the Nazis to describe a potential smoking ban is an ill-considered and repugnant action.
“We would strongly encourage the MP for Tatton to delete her tweet and apologise for this breathtakingly thoughtless comparison.”
Our comment on an MP's use of Pastor Martin Niemöller's poem about the horrors of the Nazis to describe a potential smoking ban. pic.twitter.com/Tee1JTgCKQ
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) August 29, 2024
Cabinet office minister Ellie Reeves said: “This is grossly offensive from someone who sat at the Tory cabinet table just months ago. These comments should be condemned by the leader of the opposition and those competing to be the next Tory leader.”
This is grossly offensive from someone who sat at the Tory cabinet table just months ago. These comments should be condemned by the Leader of the Opposition and those competing to be the next Tory leader. https://t.co/3XoB6sVmED
— Ellie Reeves (@elliereeves) August 29, 2024
Health secretary Wes Streeting told McVey to “get a grip”.
No, I do not think the post-war confessional of Martin Niemöller about the silent complicity of the German intelligentsia and clergy in the Nazi rise to power is pertinent to a Smoking Bill that was in your manifesto and ours to tackle one of the biggest killers.
Get a grip. https://t.co/Gg9OrQRqV6
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) August 29, 2024
But McVey doubled down on her previous remarks and insisted she “would not be bullied” into taking down her original post.
She said: “Nobody is suggesting that banning smoking outside pubs can be equated with what happened to the Jews at the hands of the Nazis. It is ridiculous for anyone to even suggest that was what I was doing.
“It is called an analogy – those who restrict freedoms start with easy targets then expand their reach.
“I am pretty sure everyone understands the point I was making and knows that no offence was ever intended and that no equivalence was being suggested.”
— Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) August 29, 2024
Former Labour MP John Mann, who was the last government’s independent adviser on anti-semitism, said: “The apology is worse than the original. I suggest she quickly deletes both and saves herself further embarrassment.”
The apology is worse than the original. I suggest she quickly deletes both and saves herself further embarrassment. https://t.co/vYwYgoPBnd
— John Mann (@LordJohnMann) August 30, 2024