UK Labour Party, LP, Axes British-Nigerian MP

The UK Labour Party has suspended its Nigerian-British minister, MP Kate Osamor, for accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. 

“Tomorrow is Holocaust Memorial Day, an international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of other people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and now Gaza.” she wrote while sharing a photograph of herself at a Holocaust Educational Trust event.

Although the MP, who represents Edmonton, has apologised over what she referred to as “any offence caused” by the message distributed to local party members on Friday, the party chief whip still suspended her from the parliamentary party.

The party has also instituted an investigation into the matter, following a barrage of criticisms by Jewish groups. 

One of the critics, the Holocaust Educational Trust, referred to her remarks as a “painful insult to survivors of the Holocaust”.

Shadow Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, was also not charitable to MP Osamor over the comment.

According to him, it is unacceptable to equate the Holocaust to the situation in Gaza.

“What is happening in Gaza is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe that is recognised. But there are specific reasons why the Holocaust is considered as it is,” he noted. 

Another group, the Board of Deputies of British Jews described her take ss “disgraceful”, just as the Jewish Leadership Council averred that comment is an attack on the Jewish state.

MP Osamor's criticism of Israel is coming on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, set aside to mark the six million Jews and other groups murdered during the Holocaust.