Today Iain pledged his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day by signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to honour those who perished in the Holocaust.

With 27th January marking the 66th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to give MPs the opportunity to remember those who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust – and to support the sharing and safeguarding of ‘Untold Stories’, learning from survivors’ experiences to help create a future free from hatred and prejudice.

In doing so, Iain paid tribute to those remarkable individuals who survived the appalling events of the Holocaust and have since dedicated their lives to educating younger generations about the dangers of allowing persecution and intolerance to take hold in society.

On and around Holocaust Memorial Day, schools, local communities and faith groups from across the UK will join together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Thousands of events are being held across the country to commemorate all those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides. The aim of the day is to motivate people – individually and collectively, to ensure that the horrendous crimes, racism and victimisation committed during the Holocaust are neither forgotten nor repeated.

Iain said

“In the tenth year of its commemoration in the UK, Holocaust Memorial Day 2011 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. As antisemitism, racism and prejudice are still present in our society, learning from the extraordinary ‘Untold Stories’ of those who survived gives us the opportunity to reflect on the evil that was perpetrated during the Holocaust and other genocides and pledge to create a brighter future.”

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said

“We are delighted that Iain is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. As the number of survivors dwindles, remembering the Holocaust and passing on their testimony is more crucial than ever. Reflecting on ‘Untold Stories’ helps give back voices to those who were persecuted and reinforces the contemporary lessons that can be learnt from this dark period in our history.”

Town MP Iain Wright today expressed his opposition to a statement made in the House of Commons on the UK blanket ban of prisoners voting.

Iain Wright was in the Chamber of the House of Commons today to hear the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, Mark Harper MP, announce that there will be a change in the country’s law following a successful challenge by a prisoner, John Hurst, in the European Court of Human Rights, that the current blanket ban on prisoners being allowed to vote was unlawful.

Commenting on the statement in the House of Commons, Iain Wright said:

“I have never supported the notion that serious offenders should be given the vote, and ever could. Committing a serious crime, and being convicted of that crime, means that a person loses one of the most valuable things in our free society, that of the freedom of liberty. In a few short days we will rightly be commemorating at Remembrance Sunday the enormous sacrifice that many of our countrymen and women paid to protect our freedom. Part of that precious liberty, which is far too often overlooked in the modern day, is the right to vote.

I think every fair-minded man and woman in Hartlepool would not want to see murderers, rapists and paedophiles be given the vote, and I share that view. I hope the Government will give a vote in Parliament on the issue, so I can register my opposition to the plans.”

Iain Wright MP for Hartlepool is joining forces with Breast Cancer Campaign to raise awareness of its award winning fundraising event, wear it pink day.

On Friday 29 October 2010 supporters in schools, colleges and businesses throughout the country are encouraged to don an item of pink in support of the Campaign and each donate £2 to fund innovative world-class breast cancer research.

Last year over one million people took part in wear it pink to help improve survival rates for the one in nine women who experience breast cancer during their lifetime.

Iain Wright MP said

“Every year in the UK, over 45,500 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women. Although it is rare, men can also suffer from breast cancer, with around 300 men diagnosed each year. I know people who have lost friends and family members to the disease and I would like to encourage everyone in my constituency of Hartlepool and throughout the country to support wear it pink on October 29, to raise valuable funds for breast cancer research.”

To take part in the UK’s original and best pink day call free phone 0800 107 3104 or visit www.wearitpink.co.uk and register for your free fundraising pack now. Wear it pink is supported by Vanish, which has committed to raising an incredible £250,000 for the charity this year.