A Conservative MP has sparked a backlash after comparing plans to introduce proof of a negative test result or vaccination to enter certain venues to “Nazi Germany”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Marcus Fysh explained that he will be voting against the measures – which come as part of the government’s Plan B and will be required in nightclubs and other large venues – as the UK is not “Nazi Germany”.
He said: “We live in a free society in this country where people have the freedom to do what they want with their own bodies and freedom of association”.
The concept of vaccine passports would be “segregating society based on an unacceptable thing”, he added.
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“We are not a ‘papers please’ society...” he went on.
“This is not Nazi Germany. It’s the thin end of an authoritarian wedge.”
Responding to his comments, people found them utterly tasteless:
talk about politics without comparing it to nazi germany challenge https://t.co/uSB9jxc8YY
— Bethany Dawson (@bethanymrd) December 13, 2021
omg guys you have to find something other than Nazi Germany to relate any minor convenience to. Are you not? Embarrassed?
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) December 13, 2021
Tories:
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 13, 2021
The left are trying to erase history!
Also Tories:
The horrors of Nazi Germany was where you needed to prove you were immunized to get into Nandos https://t.co/2otCXuyjuo
Showing your vaccine status is nothing like Nazi Germany
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) December 13, 2021
Stop comparing the most horrific inhumanity to attempts to protect citizens
Laws taking away your citizenship, pushing refugees back into the sea & limiting your right to non-violent protest
Well….Tory MPs voted for that https://t.co/LPwXt8fKgA
Ah yes, I too remember when the Jews of nazi germany could simply get a free vaccination to avoid being put in ghettos and killed https://t.co/uNUgYJEa7j
— Josh Kaplan (@JNkappers) December 13, 2021
A reminder that the Nazis murdered six million people. Comparing having to take a lateral flow test to go dancing to Nazi Germany is an insult to those who died.
— Matthew Stadlen (@MatthewStadlen) December 13, 2021
It's certainly not Nazi Germany, where there was state-sponsored mass murder, ghettos, torture, death camps and the literal dehumanisation and genocide of entire ethnic and other groups. Let's not inadvertently trivialise this important debate through ridiculous comparisons https://t.co/2DvWu91Kwt
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) December 13, 2021
They also pointed out that he has voted for measures which involve people providing “papers” to do certain things like vote:
Marcus Fysh voted in favour of forcing people to show photo ID at polling stations. https://t.co/blmCp7YHrs
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) December 13, 2021
The sheer hypocrisy of these people, who are simultaneously pushing through a "papers please" clause (compulsory voter ID) that could disenfranchise 2 million people.
— George Monbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) December 13, 2021
Not to prevent a virus from spreading, but to prevent the Conservatives from losing office. https://t.co/bN4DByJyT4
Tory MP Marcus Fysh won't vote for new Covid measures, because we're not a 'papers please' society. But he did vote to introduce voter ID. pic.twitter.com/GvRkIQa1iY
— Dr. Bendor Grosvenor (@arthistorynews) December 13, 2021
Fysh is expected to be one of the around 75 Tory rebels, led by Steve Baker, who will vote against the introduction of either mask-wearing or Covid certification in parliament on Tuesday.
The restrictions are set to expire six weeks after implementation, with a review after three weeks and they are likely to pass Tory rebellion or not, as the Labour Party have said they will back them.
One Tory backbencher told The Guardian: “The mood on the back benches is really angry.
“It’s going to be quite a sizeable rebellion. I think the Government will only get this through with Labour votes. It’s a bit like the Theresa May Brexit days – which is somewhere I never really wanted to go back to.”
Seems to us that the Brexit comparison is thoroughly more appropriate than Nazi Germany.
Indy100 has contacted Fysh to comment on this story.
