One in seven think Holocaust exaggerated

AS BRITAIN prepares for its fourth annual Holocaust Memorial Day tomorrow, a poll has shown that more than one in seven people in Britain believe the scale of the Nazi Holocaust against Jews is exaggerated.

The findings of the ICM survey, conducted for the London-based Jewish Chronicle weekly newspaper, showed that 15% of those polled agreed with a question asking if the scale of the Holocaust had been exaggerated.

70% disagreed with the statement, and 62% disagreed with it strongly, according to the survey.

Nearly 20% of those questioned in the poll timed to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day tomorrow said a Jewish prime minister would be less acceptable than a member of any other faith.

Asked whether a British Jew would make an equally acceptable prime minister as a member of any other faith, 53% agreed and 18% disagreed, 11% strongly.

Michael Howard, head of the Conservatives, is the first Jewish leader of a major political party in Britain in recent times.

The poll of 1,007 people in England, Scotland and Wales found 37% agreed that Jewish people make a positive contribution to political, social and cultural life of Britain, while 20% disagreed.

Meanwhile, 18% agreed that Jews had too much influence, while 47% disagreed.

Britain's Home Secretary, David Blunkett expressed his disappointment at the poll's findings.

"It means people are prepared to set aside not only the evidence, but the overwhelming emotion that goes with it," Mr Blunkett said. "They delude themselves into believing that the Nazis are not what we know them to be and this is very depressing."

Meanwhile, special events to commemorate the Holocaust and other political atrocities were taking place around the country this weekend as part of the lead up to Britain's fourth annual Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place next week.