The new UK government has committed to building a national Holocaust memorial beside the Houses of Parliament, marking a milestone in a drawn out process that has been impeded by legal obstacles.
The announcement was made as part of the King's Speech yesterday, which saw Charles III read out the Labour party’s priorities for the coming months.
A pledge to build the memorial, and an accompanying learning centre, was first made in January 2015 by the then prime minister David Cameron, based on the recommendations of the cross-party Holocaust Commission he had established the year prior. Cameron said at the time that the project was intended ”to secure Holocaust education forever.”
Issues arose, however, after London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust challenged the decision to build the site on the Grade II-listed Victoria Tower Gardens, taking the case to the High Court. This led to planning permission being overturned in 2022, over a 1900 law that said the area had to remain as a park.
The Holocaust Memorial Bill, launched in February 2023 and now reintroduced by the new government, would update the act, allowing the memorial and learning centre to go ahead.
Jewish groups in the UK welcomed the news of the bill’s reintroduction. Michael Newman, chief executive officer of the Association of Jewish Refugees, said in a statement to The Art Newspaper: “The AJR works every day to encourage and advance Holocaust commemoration and education and we welcome this commitment by the new government. Today, as our community grapples with antisemitism, it is vital that society is reminded where Jewish-hate can lead, when left unchallenged.
“We very much hope that the memorial and learning centre will enable all audiences to encounter the vital history of the Holocaust and look forward to continue working with government.”
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said in a press statement: ”The evil and brutality of the Holocaust is a stark reminder of what can happen when hatred and intolerance go unchallenged. We must make sure those who died are never forgotten. This bill will mean future generations continue to learn lessons from the past and help to build a more unified, tolerant future.”
Reports of antisemitic incidents hit a record high in the UK last year. In February, Jewish advisory body the Community Security Trust (CST) released a report that showed 2023 to be the worst year for antisemitism in the country since 1984, when the organisation began recording such data. The report said that two-thirds of the incidents occurred on or after Hamas’s attacks on Israel on 7 October.
The memorial and learning centre is being designed by Adjaye Associates, founded by the Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye. Last year, the firm stated that Adjaye would not be involved in the project, after allegations of sexual misconduct against him were reported by the Financial Times. David Adjaye denies the allegations.
Responding to a request for comment by The Art Newspaper, a spokesperson for Adjaye Associates said the firm had “no further comments about David Adjaye beyond the statements that were issued last year confirming that he is not working on this project”.
The UK ministry of housing, communities and local government were also contacted for comment.