Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper co-hosted with the Embassy of Israel the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day at the FCDO on Monday, 26 January 2026. In her address, the Foreign Secretary reflected not only on the imperative of remembrance and education but also set out recent and forthcoming actions to strengthen the UK’s commitment to Holocaust memory. She welcomed the passage of the Holocaust Memorial Act, marking a significant step towards establishing a national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre near Parliament, intended as a lasting reminder of how democratic failure can lead to atrocity.
Cooper also announced the appointment of Jon Pearce as the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, tasked with advancing UK policy on Holocaust education, remembrance, and research both domestically and internationally. Emphasising that fewer survivors remain to tell their stories, she stressed that this work will help bridge generations and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to inform efforts to confront antisemitism and hatred today.
The Foreign Secretary also met with Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich MBE to discuss her significant testimony.