Michael Connarty MP condemns Scottish Tory and SNP Governmentâ€™s decision not to use money intended to fund educational visits by Scottish school children to Holocaust sites

Michael Connarty MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency is supporting a Motion in the UK Parliament condemning the Scottish Executive's decision not to use money intended to fund educational visits by Scottish school children to Holocaust sites.

Michael, who visited Auschwitz in September 2007 as part of the Holocaust Education Trust party along with schools from his constituency said ““People should not underestimate the importance of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and recognising the full extent of the pre-planned and industrialised nature of the Death Camp during the Holocaust. These events may have taken place over 60 years ago but as our society bears witness, we need to continue to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to the younger generations in order to fight prejudice, bigotry and discrimination which continue in our society today.

I thought much was gained by the young people I accompanied on the visit last autumn. Not least was the very relevant question of the danger of religious sectarianism in Scotland today. I wonder why the SNP would want to take such a backward step at this time. It should be reversed immediately, and I call on all the local level headed politicians to join me in calling for the visits to continue.”