Earlier, the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre was proposed by the then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2014, and Victoria Tower Gardens was chosen as the location, amidst opposition led by London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust. Despite the planning permission, there is a controversy surrounding the location of the proposed Holocaust Memorial. A former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, expressed his concerns about the proposed location being a target for Islamic extremist and far-right terrorists. The said location is a park next to the Houses of Parliament, and Lord Carlile was unconvinced that it was the right site for the memorial.
The proposed memorial and learning centre would be located in Victoria Tower Gardens, which could potentially become an “iconic and tempting” target for extremists, given its proximity to the Palace of Westminster. Lord Carlile emphasized that recent events in Israel-Palestine cannot be overlooked as a heightened danger of action against perceived Jewish interests in London presents a “serious prospect.”
There has been an increased risk in London due to the recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks since Hamas launched attacks into Israel last year. The project’s cost has risen, with the majority of funding coming from the government. Although planning permission was granted in 2021, it was later revealed that the location violated the 1900 London County Council Act and that nothing could be constructed in Victoria Tower Gardens.
A parliamentary select committee is now deliberating on a Holocaust Memorial Bill to allow the proposal to move forward. The opponents of the project are seeking to have the underground learning center removed and sited elsewhere. The proposal has also drawn criticism due to its proximity to an existing children’s playground. As it currently stands, the memorial is slated to be located close to a designated children’s playground area.
This Saturday, the Holocaust Memorial Day will commemorate the Nazi genocide of six million Jews during the Second World War globally. The ongoing controversy surrounding the proposed Holocaust Memorial has left the project in limbo, with the Parliamentary select committee working to resolve the conflict between the memorial’s backers and its opponents.