Day Britain died’

BARONESS HAYMAN (CB) There was an embarrassed silence and eventually the meeting continued.

At the end of the meeting, the chairman came up to me not to express support but to ask me to apologise to the woman who had spoken. She was an important donor to the charity.

He said that I had offended her and that my remarks could harm the organisation. It was my comment, not hers, that was seen as the problem.

I fear that there are parallels half-acentury later. Those who call out antisemitism are themselves accused, at best, of hypersensitivity; at worst, of disloyalty. A dismal absence of principled leadership has unleashed a second wave of abuse against those who challenge antisemitism, and Labour MPs who tell it as it is are being punished in their constituencies.

BARONESS ALTMANN (CON)

As I have grown up in this wonderful country, I have never understood how the Holocaust could have happened. BARONESS ALTMANN (CON) My family fled Nazi persecution and I would not be here today had they not done so.

I never understood how European citizens could turn on friends to the extent of being willing to murder them as aliens. This was beyond my comprehension until the past couple of years. Before that, I believed that it could not happen again, and certainly not in the UK. All governments in my living memory have been tolerant and welcoming of Jews. I have never felt any threat to my chosen religious beliefs, until now. I urge noble Lords on all sides of this House to take note that one of our mainstream political parties is led by an antisemite.

LORD STERLING (CON)

On Sunday 18 November, the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women — Ajex — of which I have the honour to be president, will be marching in its annual Cenotaph parade, as it has done since 1934. In the First World War, more than 50,000 British Jews served, out of LORD STERLING (CON) a community of 350,000. Likewise, in the Second World War, 60,000 served. A further 30,000 Jews who lived in the British Mandate for Palestine — now partly Israel — volunteered. Very large numbers were killed and wounded in both wars and a significant number of Victoria Crosses, DSOs and other awards for bravery and distinguished service were awarded.

I, and unquestionably those in Ajex and their families, as well as those serving today — and, indeed, the vast majority of the Jewish community — totally disagree with the view that many would leave this country if Corbyn got to power. We are proud British Jews. We will fight with all the weapons that a great democracy such as ours will allow us to use. Vast numbers of the British people would be alongside us.

Never again will we be carried away in cattle trucks.

Key: Con = Conservative, Lab = Labour, CB = Cross-bench