Allowing Winter Olympics to go ahead in China is akin to ‘appeasing Hitler’, says Iain Duncin Smith
A former Conservative leader has said allowing China to go ahead with the Winter Olympics next year is akin to “appeasing Hitler”.
Iain Duncan Smith made the comparison while giving his support to a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 games.
Sir Iain said: “We have forgotten what happened when we appeased another ghastly dictatorship. Sixty million people died as a result of our failure when we appeased them and we are on the same course today.
“And this debate today about boycotting these Olympics is not just a token. We know that China is sensitive when it gets global criticism, when people shine the torch on what goes on behind it. We know they react. Why do we know that? Because they sanction people like myself and many of my colleagues in this chamber and the European Parliament.”
Labour MP Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) urged MPs to back the boycott to end a “gaping chasm between rhetoric and action”.
Mr Khan said: “Despite condemnation from all sides of the house, including the Government, there is still a gaping chasm between rhetoric and action. We cannot on the one hand recognise genocide and on the other send dignitaries and diplomats to the Beijing Olympics.”