Karen Bradley: In this week's column on Nub News, the Moorlands MP has discussed the recent Holocaust Memorial Day.

I was pleased to join other Staffordshire MPs and representatives from Staffordshire County Council last week to discuss an event in Parliament to promote Staffordshire Day as well as hosting a call for hospitality and tourism businesses in the Moorlands together with Cllr Sybil Ralphs MBE, representatives from UK Hospitality and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. Following the call, I have submitted a written question to the Chancellor asking him to look into extending the temporary reduction of VAT for businesses in the hospitality sector beyond the 31st of March 2022. Businesses on the call were informed about the #GearingforGrowth2022 in Hospitality webinar which took place virtually on Monday, January 31 and was aimed at SMEs in food and beverage, accommodation and leisure, and offered expert insight and advice on digital systems, marketing, HR and funding. Last Thursday was Holocaust Memorial Day and I was honoured to join other colleagues in Parliament and sign the Holocaust Educational Trust's Book of Commitment, pledging my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today. The theme for this year's commemorations was 'One Day' and this year marked 77 years since the liberation of the concentration camps of Europe and the end of the Second World War. Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people to reflect on the darkest times of European history and here in the Moorlands I was pleased to visit the Memorial Garden at the bottom of Russell Street in Leek. It is currently dedicated to those lost to COVID-19 after it was renovated by the Town Council last year but will now also be a symbol of Holocaust Memorial.

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