Tory MP Marcus Fysh has been criticised for comparing the Covid health passes being introduced in the UK to limit the spread of Omicron to atrocities in Nazi Germany.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews called his remarks “completely unacceptable” and he was criticised by a fellow Conservative rebel who plans to oppose mandatory use of NHS Covid passes to large venues in a Commons vote on Tuesday.
Mr Fysh argued the passes, which can be acquired by being fully vaccinated or receiving a negative lateral flow result, would be “segregating society based on an unacceptable thing”.
Reminder: vaccine passports don't actually work. They are a psy-opp to get people to get vaccinated. I'm all for vaccination. Just be straight with people about its benefits and safety - which are good - and stop playing these silly amd dangerous games.
— Marcus Fysh MP (@MarcusFysh) December 13, 2021
Advertisement
“We are not a ‘papers please’ society. This is not Nazi Germany,” the MP who has represented Yeovil since 2015, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It’s the thin end of an authoritarian wedge and that’s why we will resist it.”
Despite his opposition to being a “papers please” society, Mr Fysh voted in September for the UK government’s Elections Bill which will introduce photographic identification for voting.
Those plans have been widely-criticised as installing a barrier to the polls, particularly for the disabled and elderly, as well as people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl said: “It is completely unacceptable to compare the proposed vaccine passports with Nazi Germany.
“We urge people, particularly those in positions of authority, to avoid these highly inappropriate comparisons.”
When will we ever learn? Let's hope 2022 is the year when we stop making flippant comparisons to the Nazis. https://t.co/Gt9eFqGbl7
— Margaret Hodge (@margarethodge) December 13, 2021
Conservative MP Christian Wakeford, who plans to vote against the UK government alongside Mr Fysh, was also critical.
“Whilst I will be in the same lobby as Marcus, these types of comments are untrue, unhelpful, and truly deeply offensive to the Jewish community,” he said.
“Covid restrictions should never be compared to the darkest period in human history.”
Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who is Jewish, added: “When will we ever learn? Let’s hope 2022 is the year when we stop making flippant comparisons to the Nazis.”
It's certainly not Nazi Germany, where there was state-sponsored mass murder, ghettos, torture, death camps and the literal dehumanisation and genocide of entire ethnic and other groups. Let's not inadvertently trivialise this important debate through ridiculous comparisons https://t.co/2DvWu91Kwt
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) December 13, 2021
Adam Wagner, a barrister who examines Covid regulations, urged MPs not to “inadvertently trivialise” the debate with “ridiculous comparisons”.
“It’s certainly not Nazi Germany, where there was state-sponsored mass murder, ghettos, torture, death camps and the literal dehumanisation and genocide of entire ethnic and other groups,” he added.
British prime minister Boris Johnson is facing the threat of the biggest backbench revolt of his premiership when MPs vote on the use of what critics term “vaccine passports” on Tuesday.
Around 75 Tories have indicated they could rebel over their use, which with Labour support are expected to be introduced on Wednesday for indoor venues containing more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people, and any venue with more than 10,000 people.
