By remembering, we can look forward with hope
RT HON ANGUS ROBERTSON MP,
SNP WESTMINSTER LEADER
Angus has represented Moray Constituency in North
East Scotland since June 2001. Prior to that he was
the European and International Affairs Adviser to
the SNP group in the Scottish Parliament. Before
moving into politics, Angus worked as a foreign and
diplomatic correspondent in central Europe.
The Jewish community in Scotland is
a small but vitally important part of
our national life. We are proud of the
contribution that Scottish Jews make
to our communities, to our national life
and as active members of the Scottish
National Party. As parliamentarians
and political leaders we must be
unequivocally clear that there can be
absolutely no room for complacency
when it comes to tackling antisemitism.
It is the 21st Century - no one should
face prejudice and discrimination
because they are Jewish, but we are
witnessing worrying evidence of a
growing resurgence in antisemitism
across Europe, and in the UK. The SNP
want Scotland and the UK’s Jewish
communities to feel safe. We condemn
all antisemitism and in particular attacks
on Jewish targets in Paris, Belgium and
Copenhagen. These acts, individually
and together, scar us all.
It is almost inconceivable that we
should be seeing this scourge across
our continent again. It brings into sharp
focus the need for vigilance and reminds
us all just how important education
is. Such education takes many forms.
Recently I met Harry Spiro, who was
only ten years old when the area in
which he lived became part of the
Pietroków Ghetto. His remarkable story
of survival in several concentration
camps and his subsequent arrival in the
UK as an orphan, is a lesson to us all.
I cannot help but draw parallels between
the story of Harry Spiro’s arrival in the
UK and the plight of child refugees
in present day Europe. As I write this,
vulnerable lone children and other
refugees continue to suffer and face an
uncertain and precarious future.
Meeting Harry was an education for
me, confirming my belief that the UK
Government must speed up efforts
to ensure the UK finally accepts
our fair share of refugees, including
unaccompanied children, and highlights
the importance of those who continue
to give their testimonies.
It is vital that this education continues in
our schools and that as individuals we
seek to educate ourselves. It is for this
reason that I look forward to vis