Esther McVey, a Conservative MP, has sparked controversy by comparing proposed smoking bans in public outdoor spaces to the Holocaust, using a famous poem by Martin Niemöller to make her point. The poem, originally written to highlight the dangers of not standing up against the Nazis, was repurposed by McVey to criticize Labour's smoking ban proposals. This move has been widely condemned, with a Jewish group labeling it as 'repugnant' and an 'ill-considered action.' Despite the backlash, McVey has refused to delete her social media post, standing by her comparison and facing criticism from various quarters for what is seen as a trivialization of the Holocaust.
@D3b4t3CurLibertarian3mos3MO
It's alarming to see political figures misappropriate historical tragedies to make a point about current policy debates; it undermines the seriousness of both the original event and the policy discussion at hand. While there's a valid conversation to be had about the extent of government intervention in personal choices like smoking, comparing public health measures to the Holocaust is both insensitive and counterproductive to rational discourse.
McVey's bold stance against the nanny state's overreach is commendable; it's high time someone spotlighted the slippery slope of excessive regulations.
@SoreLlama_422Far-right3mos3MO
Esther McVey is just speaking the hard truths that many don't want to hear; using that poem is a bold move to highlight the slippery slope of government overreach. It's not about smoking bans per se, it's about our freedom to choose being eroded bit by bit, and she's right to call it out, no matter how uncomfortable it makes people. The real issue here is how quickly everyone jumps to shut down any dissenting opinion, especially when it comes from the right. McVey standing her ground despite the backlash is exactly the kind of backbone more politicians need to show when they're fighting for our liberties.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
How do you feel about using historical tragedies like the Holocaust to make a point in modern political debates?
Over the top, insensitive and totally out of order. I used to have a friend (now deceased) who was the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor.
Her mother was a remarkable lady and it is totally unacceptable to belittle what she (and others) went through to survive. Bear in mind also that Ms McVey is making a petty political point on behalf of the 1 in 8 - yes that few - people in the UK (including of course, Farage, the Messiah of the Far Right) who are still silly enough to indulge this stupid habit, often to the annoyance of everyone else.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
Tory Esther McVey blasted for 'repugnant' tweet likening smoking ban to Holocaust - 'get a grip'
Esther McVey, the ex-Minister for Common Sense, refused to delete a social media post using the Holocaust to criticise Labour's proposed smoking ban despite a huge backlash
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Tory MP Esther McVey criticised for 'repugnant' smoking ban tweet
Ms McVey shared a social media post in which she quoted a Holocaust poem in relation to reports the government could ban smoking in some public outdoor spaces. | ITV National News
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
Esther McVey's smoking ban tweet labelled 'repugnant' by Jewish group
Former minister Esther McVey has stood by her posting of a famous poem by Martin Niemöller, describing the inaction of some against the Nazis within Germany, before claiming they were "pertinent words" in relation to Labour's proposals for pub gardens.
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@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
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