Holocaust memorial by Parliament ‘would be a serious terror risk’

THE Holocaust memorial planned for a park neighbouring the Houses of Parliament will be a “very real terrorism risk,” a former Government adviser has warned. Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the entire royal park, Victoria Tower Gardens, may have to be treated as a “high-level security risk” with visitors subjected to electronic and personal body searches to prevent a terrorist atrosity.

This is because there is a “real and present” prospect of the site being regarded as an iconic target by both Islamist and Right-wing extremists, said Lord Carlile, whose close family were Holocaust victims.

MPS are considering Government legislation paving the way for the memorial and learning centre in the gardens adjoining the Palace of Westminster. Critics claim the site is too small for the proposed development and is popular as a tourist site in its own right. Others have said it would “overwhelm, dominate and overshadow” a fountain in the park dedicated to Sir Thomas Foxwell Buxton and other anti-slavery campaigners.

Some MPS and Lords are pushing for a wider protective “boundary” around Parliament to further protect against any terrorist attacks, potentially extending as far as Lambeth Bridge, to the south of the Palace of Westminster.

Lawyers for Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, said security around the palace and Holocaust memorial would be decided as part of its application for planning permission. The holocaust memorial and learning centre was first proposed in 2015 and planning permission was granted in 2021 following a public inquiry.

It was challenged in the High Court as the land is a designated public park. The Bill going through Parliament intends to remove the legal obstacles preventing the project from going ahead.