Outrage as Tory MP Esther McVey Uses Holocaust Poem to Criticize Smoking Ban

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.