Piers Corbyn designs leaflet comparing Covid vaccine programme with Auschwitz

Piers Corbyn, speaking during an anti-lockdown rally, is the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
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An MP today asked police to investigate the distribution of a leaflet designed by Jeremy Corbyn’s brother that compares the Covid-19 vaccine programme with the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz.

Southwark Labour MP Neil Coyle said it was “utterly sickening” to exploit the Holocaust to peddle anti-vaccine myths that have been denounced by senior NHS doctors and scientists.

Theresa Villiers, the Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet, said the leaflet had been sent to Jewish homes in her constituency and had caused “upset and concern”. She called it “disgraceful”.

The pamphlet, which has been hand-delivered in several areas, carries a cartoon of the extermination camp where 1.1 million people were murdered between 1940 and 1945. In the drawing its sign that read “Arbeit macht frei” (“work sets you free”) has been altered to “Vaccines are safe path to freedom”.

Among claims in the leaflet that NHS doctors say are complete nonsense are that “some vaccines contain nanochips which can electronically track recipients”. It credits the idea of the cartoon to Piers Corbyn, the older brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.  

Mr Coyle said he acted after complaints from residents on the Newington Estate and the Walworth Road. “I am asking the police to investigate this breach of covid rules,” he said. “Families staying home, isolating and shielding should not face the hideous situation of having their doors knocked by conspiracy theorists pretending there is no risk.”

Piers Corbyn confirmed he was part of a group that made the leaflet, pictured, but denied it was offensive

He added: “Their views are disgusting to everyone who knows someone who has passed away. To use Auschwitz imagery is unbelievably sickening. I hope prosecutions follow and no one else is subject to these weird leaflets or cranks on their doorstep.”

Ms Villiers said: “I condemn this appalling and irresponsible leaflet. It is deeply disturbing that it went through doors in my constituency. Adding an offensive cartoon of the Holocaust to these disgraceful antivax falsehoods means that Piers Corbyn has hit a new low.”

Mr Corbyn confirmed that he was part of a group that made the leaflet but denied it was offensive. “A group of us came up with the idea,” he said. “The Evening Standard was saying that vaccines will set us all free and it is not true.”

Asked if he thought the leaflet broke any laws, he said: “Of course not.”  He said he did not know how many copies had been made or distributed.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Sunday joined forces with Conservative Minister for Vaccinations Nadhim Zahawi to reassure people that vaccines are “safe” following worries about hesitancy among people of black and minority ethnic communities.

“The importance of this message transcends party politics,” said Mr Khan. “Covid vaccines are safe, effective, and will help protect you and those you love.”

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