Tory MP Andrew Percy has used a speech in the House of Commons to warn both main political parties about the “disgusting” rise in use of anti-Jewish tropes.
Speaking during Thursday’s Holocaust Memorial Day debate, Mr Percy, who co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Antisemitism, said: "To those on my own side I want to say—I am sure that this does not apply to anybody present—that I have no truck with anybody engaging in Soros conspiracy theories, as some regrettably have done, including at the recent election.
“The Nazis treated Jews as vermin but also alleged that they had a plan for world domination.
“Sadly, the Soros conspiracy theories we see, which are prevalent on the far-right of politics, are simply an updated version of that disgusting ideology.
“Using George Soros’s Jewish heritage and puppet-master imagery is antisemitic.”
The MP for Brigg and Goole added: "If anyone shares any of these images—if anybody on any side of politics in this Chamber engages in that again—they will most certainly be hearing from me and our group.”
He spoke after new Tory MPs Sally-Ann Hart and Lee Anderson, as well as candidate Richard Short, all faced investigations over alleged antisemitism during the General Election campaign.
Turning his attention to Jeremy Corbyn’s party, Mr Percy said: ”I do fear, sadly, that on the Labour Benches—some 30 of the party’s candidates at the recent election were accused of antisemitism—there is more work to be done to counter anti-Jewish racism.”
He said of Catherine McKinnell, his Labour co-chair: “She will have no truck with those who talk about foreign Governments being inspired by Zionist masters, any kind of relativisation of the holocaust in respect of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq or, indeed, pathetic antisemitic Beatles singalongs, which we have seen."
The comments seemed directed at Labour MPs Apsana Begum, who had shared a message on Facebook about "Zionist masters", and Dan Carden, who denied using the word ‘Jew’ in a drunken rendition of the Beatles' Hey Jude.
Mr Percy continued: "As I have said previously, it brings shame on this country’s whole body politic that, sadly, this disgusting ideology has been at the heart of British politics and mainstreamed in recent years. ”
Mr Percy, who is himself Jewish, said: "l am sad in one way, but proud in another, that when I knocked on the doors of working-class communities in my area at the election, people referenced the current rise in antisemitism as a concern.
“We do not have a big Jewish community. I think that I am one of three Jewish constituents. We may be heading for a minyan, but there are certainly not many of us.
“It was sad but also reassuring to hear people in my area reference the need to do more on this at the recent election.
“I am very proud of the people in my area for standing as resolutely as they have.“
