Two Liverpool Liberal Democrat councillors have apologised after comparing crowd control arrangements at Sandhills station with Auschwitz and a Nazi death camp. Richard Kemp and Pat Moloney made the comments during a council planning debate about Everton supporters travelling to Hill Dickinson Stadium, prompting condemnation from Jewish community leaders and calls for disciplinary action from Labour politicians.
Two Liberal Democrat councillors, Richard Kemp and Pat Maloney, have issued an apology following public outcry over their recent comments comparing crowd control measures at Sandhills Station to Nazi concentration camps. The remarks were made during a planning debate regarding new arrangements for supporters traveling to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium. Kemp, a former Lord Mayor, likened the proposed station queues to a “greeting area at Auschwitz,” while Maloney compared the planned corridor and sterile areas to a “Nazi death camp.”
These statements drew immediate condemnation from Jewish community leaders, who criticized the comparison for minimizing the horrors suffered during the Holocaust. In response to the controversy, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Council Leader Liam Robinson called for disciplinary action against the councillors. Both officials rejected any comparison between Holocaust victims and football fans traveling to matches. Although the Liberal Democrat group leader stated that neither councillor would be removed from their position, both men apologized in a formal statement, asserting that they never intended to cause harm to the Jewish community.
They expressed regret if their language caused offense but maintained their opposition to the stadium's planning proposals, which they continue to characterize as dehumanizing to fans. The councillors emphasized that their primary concerns remain focused on practical issues, including parking, taxi access, and facilities for disabled supporters at the station. The Liberal Democrat leadership confirmed that both Kemp and Maloney acknowledge the offensive nature of their initial comments and accept that their choice of language was insensitive. This incident follows a broader public discussion regarding infrastructure planning and safety measures for the new stadium, with this specific controversy now central to the debate.
