The government is today introducing legislation to build the controversial Westminster Holocaust Memorial in the gardens next to Parliament.

The Bill will override a law that dates back to 1900 that prohibits construction in Victoria Tower Gardens, removing the final obstacle to building the national memorial and learning centre.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP confirmed that it would be free to visit after construction, and said in a statement: "This memorial will rightly sit at the heart of Westminster, alongside other great symbols of our democracy, and will act as an inspiration to the whole nation for generations to come."

Labour's Thangam Debbonaire confirmed earlier this month that the opposition will work with the government to pass the Bill "as quickly as possible", saying that the memorial will go "such a long way in educating future generations about the Holocaust."

The news was welcomed by the Holocaust Educational Trust, whose chief executive, Karen Pollock CBE, said: "Time is of the essence and survivors of the Holocaust are becoming fewer and frailer, our hope is for the Memorial to be completed in time for them to see."

holocaust memorial westminster

The proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre (Photo: Handout)

The idea of having a national Holocaust Memorial and learning centre in Victoria Gardens, next to the Houses of Parliament, was first proposed by a commission set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015, but it has seen various setbacks since then. 

After a consultation exercise in 2019, the initial design was revised following criticism from local residents and a number of organisations about the location and the design, but even so, Westminster City Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to reject the plans in February 2020. 

After the government conducted a lengthy public inquiry into the plans, it announced in July 2021 that the memorial would, in fact, go ahead. 

However, a number of organisations, including the London Historic Parks And Gardens Trust, appealed the decision to the High Court who, in April last year, overturned planning permission as the plans did not comply with a 1900 statute mandating that Victoria Tower Gardens be used solely as “a garden open to the public”.

An appeal against that decision was rejected in July 2022, and last month ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that his government would put forward legislation to override the 123-year-old law and build the memorial.

PM Rishi Sunak confirms the government will legislate to allow the building of the Westminster Holocaust memorial. pic.twitter.com/0Idtj8Em7N

— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) January 25, 2023

Earlier this month, Thangam Debbonaire, Labour's Shadow Leader of the Commons, confirmed opposition support for the legislation, saying: "The Government’s announcement of a Holocaust memorial Bill is welcome. It will allow the building of a new memorial and learning centre, which will go such a long way in educating future generations about the holocaust.

"I offer the Government Labour’s co-operation in getting the Bill through as quickly as possible, because there must be no delay."

Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust: “We are delighted that legislation is today being brought to the House of Commons to allow the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to be built next to Parliament. The Memorial will educate future generations and ensure the Holocaust remains in our nation’s collective memory.

"Time is of the essence and survivors of the Holocaust are becoming fewer and frailer, our hope is for the Memorial to be completed in time for them to see," she added.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP said in a statement today: “As a nation, it is vital we learn from the past to build a future which is free from prejudice and hatred.

“This memorial will rightly sit at the heart of Westminster, alongside other great symbols of our democracy, and will act as an inspiration to the whole nation for generations to come.

“Today’s Bill is timely as the remaining survivors are becoming older and fewer in number, meaning it is vital that we push ahead with the Memorial – we owe it to the six million Jewish people who were murdered.”