British MP involved in expenses scandal apologizes for Holocaust analogy

The British member of Parliament (MP) David Wilshire, of the Conservative Party, has offered an "unreserved" apology for comparing politicians caught up in an expenses scandal to Holocaust victims. Wilshire is to stand down at the next election after being found guilty of having diverted GBP 100,000 (US$ 164,000) from his parliamentary office allowance to his private company. In the wake of the scandal, which affected many other members of Parliament, Wilshire wrote to his constituents that “The witch hunt against MPs will undermine democracy. It will weaken Parliament. Branding a whole group of people as undesirables led to Hitler's gas chambers."

Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "There is no comparison between the treatment of MPs and the persecution and murder of innocent men, women and children. To draw a parallel displays a lack of judgment and sensitivity." Conservative party leader David Cameron said Wilshire’s comments had been "frankly ludicrous".