This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7259506.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Row over Auschwitz 'gimmick' note | Row over Auschwitz 'gimmick' note |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A row has broken out over Conservative claims that Labour had not lived up to a promise of free educational visits to Auschwitz concentration camp. | A row has broken out over Conservative claims that Labour had not lived up to a promise of free educational visits to Auschwitz concentration camp. |
| The Conservatives included the Labour pledge in a list of 26 "gimmicks" it said the government failed to deliver. | The Conservatives included the Labour pledge in a list of 26 "gimmicks" it said the government failed to deliver. |
| Labour hit back by saying the reference to Auschwitz visits as a "gimmick" was "truly disgraceful" and offensive to the Jewish community. | Labour hit back by saying the reference to Auschwitz visits as a "gimmick" was "truly disgraceful" and offensive to the Jewish community. |
| But the Tories said there was genuine concern about the lack of funding. | But the Tories said there was genuine concern about the lack of funding. |
| The reference to Auschwitz visits was in briefing notes to a speech by Conservative leader David Cameron. | The reference to Auschwitz visits was in briefing notes to a speech by Conservative leader David Cameron. |
| 'Party politics' | 'Party politics' |
| It said the government has promised funding for two pupils from every sixth form and college in the country to visit the Nazi concentration camp where millions of Jews were murdered during the World War I. | It said the government has promised funding for two pupils from every sixth form and college in the country to visit the Nazi concentration camp where millions of Jews were murdered during the World War I. |
| To attack David Cameron for rightly including it in a list of gimmicks is really to try and make party political points out of a situation Lord Hunt | To attack David Cameron for rightly including it in a list of gimmicks is really to try and make party political points out of a situation Lord Hunt |
| But in fact, the Conservatives say, schools would have to find £100 to fund every sixth formers' trip. | But in fact, the Conservatives say, schools would have to find £100 to fund every sixth formers' trip. |
| A Conservative spokesman said: "There is no way we think that trips to Auschwitz are a gimmick. | A Conservative spokesman said: "There is no way we think that trips to Auschwitz are a gimmick. |
| "The gimmick is for the government to make an announcement without providing the means for it to happen." | "The gimmick is for the government to make an announcement without providing the means for it to happen." |
| But Schools Secretary Ed Balls said: "Anyone who has seen the horrors of Auschwitz at first-hand knows what a life-changing experience it is. | But Schools Secretary Ed Balls said: "Anyone who has seen the horrors of Auschwitz at first-hand knows what a life-changing experience it is. |
| "To call the announcement I made of £4.65m to fund visits by school children over the next three years a 'gimmick' just beggars belief. | "To call the announcement I made of £4.65m to fund visits by school children over the next three years a 'gimmick' just beggars belief. |
| "In trying to make this issue into a matter of party politics, David Cameron has shown once again that he not only lacks judgment but also a basic sense of decency." | "In trying to make this issue into a matter of party politics, David Cameron has shown once again that he not only lacks judgment but also a basic sense of decency." |
| In a statement, the Holocaust Educational Trust said it did not want to get involved in "party politics" over the row. | In a statement, the Holocaust Educational Trust said it did not want to get involved in "party politics" over the row. |
| 'Offended' | 'Offended' |
| It followed a call by Labour peer Lord Janner, who is chairman of the HET, for Mr Cameron to retract the claim. | |
| He said: "The Jewish community will be deeply hurt and offended by this. | He said: "The Jewish community will be deeply hurt and offended by this. |
| "It's a low form of politics which David Cameron must already be regretting. I think it's very, very important that he apologises." | "It's a low form of politics which David Cameron must already be regretting. I think it's very, very important that he apologises." |
| In a short speech, Mr Cameron attacked Mr Brown for being "so obsessed with short-term gimmicks". | In a short speech, Mr Cameron attacked Mr Brown for being "so obsessed with short-term gimmicks". |
| "We've had a gimmick for every week that Gordon Brown has been prime minister," Mr Cameron said in Bolton. | "We've had a gimmick for every week that Gordon Brown has been prime minister," Mr Cameron said in Bolton. |
| "It would be funny if it wasn't so serious." | "It would be funny if it wasn't so serious." |
| Funding concern | Funding concern |
| But Lord Hunt of Wirral, a Conservative peer and vice-president of the HET, defended Mr Cameron, saying there had been private concern over the government's funding promises, particularly when it emerged the trips would not be available to children in Scotland and Wales. | But Lord Hunt of Wirral, a Conservative peer and vice-president of the HET, defended Mr Cameron, saying there had been private concern over the government's funding promises, particularly when it emerged the trips would not be available to children in Scotland and Wales. |
| He said: "I greatly regret the Labour Party is seeking to making party political points out of what has been an all-party approach to Holocaust education and has the support of David Cameron. | He said: "I greatly regret the Labour Party is seeking to making party political points out of what has been an all-party approach to Holocaust education and has the support of David Cameron. |
| "I have been raising concern within the Holocaust Educational Trust because there are conditions about how much it has to raise to put alongside the government grant. | "I have been raising concern within the Holocaust Educational Trust because there are conditions about how much it has to raise to put alongside the government grant. |
| ""Now, when the small print emerges we're being told it doesn't apply to Scotland and Wales, we're being told that we will have to raise money within HET so it isn't quite what it appeared." | ""Now, when the small print emerges we're being told it doesn't apply to Scotland and Wales, we're being told that we will have to raise money within HET so it isn't quite what it appeared." |
| The HET organises one-day visits to Auschwitz followed by follow-up seminars. These are aimed at showing "what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable". | The HET organises one-day visits to Auschwitz followed by follow-up seminars. These are aimed at showing "what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable". |
| The Conservatives said that under a Conservative government the trips would be "funded in full". | The Conservatives said that under a Conservative government the trips would be "funded in full". |