Warwick: Tory student group apologises for video ‘showing members singing and dancing to Nazi songs’ | Politics News

The University of Warwick Conservative Association issued a statement after footage showed people at their event singing Erika – a song used by the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

A conservative student group has apologized after a video allegedly showed its members singing and dancing to a Nazi marching song.

The clip, recorded two weeks ago at a Conservatives Association chairman’s dinner at the University of Warwick, shows people singing “Erika” – a song used by the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

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The Sunday Timeswho was shown the footage said it showed several members of the club dancing and laughing while the song played over the loudspeaker system.

The recording ends after a member sees the camera and says: “Don’t film!”, the newspaper said.

In a statement, the University of Warwick Conservatives Association said it “strongly condemns the behaviour shown in this video and apologises for any offence it may have caused”.

It was said that most of the people seen in the video were completely unaware of the song’s origins and meaning, but the member who requested that the song be played is no longer welcome at the group’s events.

The club stated that one person who was heard “actively singing along to song lyrics” was not a member but was “excluded along with others from future events.”

However, the accusation that it is a “toxic society” in which “racism is normalized” was rejected.

The association said its members had “consistently campaigned against anti-Semitism on campus, including campaigning for the Warwick Student’s Union to withdraw from the National Union of Students over its failure to combat anti-Semitism.”

“Our members have also worked hard to ensure that the student union commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day in an appropriate manner,” it continued.

“We are proud of these efforts and will continue to stand against discrimination.”

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The Union of Jewish Students called the video “absolutely abhorrent” and “blatant and unchallenged support of Nazism” and called on the Tory party to take action.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said the student group was not affiliated with the party.

“There is no place for racism in the Conservative Party and we will always ensure that appropriate action is taken against any member whose behaviour is not consistent with our values ​​of tolerance and respect,” the spokesman added.

A Warwick University spokesman said: “We have been made aware of this video and the allegations surrounding it, which are extremely disturbing.

“Such behavior is reprehensible and we are disappointed that our students are involved.

“The university is checking the information made available to us via our reporting service and has notified the student representatives.

“We have requested a meeting with the Jewish Society to obtain assistance in our review.”