With Holocaust Memorial Day coming up this Sunday, you can always rely on some odious figure to make an incredibly offensive comment about “the Jews”. The Commentator reports that LibDem MP David Ward yesterday compared the Middle East conflict to the Holocaust on his official website next to the party logo:

“Having visited Auschwitz twice – once with my family and once with local schools – I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza.”

Ward has now dug himself an even deeper hole attempting to clarify his comments: “It appears that the suffering by the Jews has not transformed their views on how others should be treated”.

Sources tell Guido that LibDem powers that be are “furious”, and a spokesperson insisted “this is obviously something we will take extremely seriously”. A formal statement from the party is expected imminently. It could be argued Jihad Jenny went for less…

UPDATE: The LibDems have condemned Ward, telling Guido in a statement:

“This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use of language which is unacceptable.”