A Lib Dem candidate has apologised for drawing parallels between the treatment of people who cross the English channel and that of Jews during the Holocaust and for comparing Home Secretary Priti Patel to senior nazi Joseph Goebbels.

Helen Morgan will be contesting North Shropshire next week in a by-election for the Tory stronghold triggered by Owen Paterson’s resignation following a row over parliamentary standards. 

Last summer in response to tweets by the Home Secretary on the topic of 'activist' immigration lawyers, Ms. Morgan said:”I think we would all appreciate an explanation of the difference between a lawyer and an activist lawyer.

“In the meantime, please tear up your copy of Goebbels’ manual; it is most unbecoming of one of The Great Offices of State.”

She later deleted the tweet and apologised, saying:"I apologise for this insensitive tweet which I have taken down.”

Ms Morgan also tweeted last year that her son had been reading John Boyne’s 2006 Holocaust novel The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. 

She wrote: “He commented that the Nazis were only able to do such terrible things because they didn’t think their victims were people. He’s 11. 

“On Twitter this morning, there are people talking about cancelling their RNLI [Royal National Lifeboat Institution] donations because they have picked up ‘illegals.’ 

“The language used every day in this country – by the government, press and people with thousands of followers on social media – it’s nothing short of chilling.  

“'We have travelled too far down this road. We urgently need to turn back.”

A spokesperson for the Lib Dems told the JC on Monday that Ms Morgan had taken down the tweet and “apologises if any offence was caused”.