Gay Human Rights campaigner and OutRage! activist Peter Tatchell was arrested this afternoon at Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster, after the Holocaust Memorial commemoration for pleading with attendees as they filed out of the hall not to let the Holocaust happen again.

He spoke out against the UK's asylum system which often sees those seeking asylum from genocide and persecution turned away. He named-and-shamed Tory leader Michael Howard who was in attendance for his party's election commitment to institute a quota system for the acceptance of those seeking asylum.

"'Never Again', today means not closing our doors to refugees fleeing persecution. Don't let Michael Howard dishonour the victims of the Holocaust with his quotas for asylum seekers. 'Never Again' means never again!" said Mr Tatchell

Mr Tatchell was arrested under the Contempt of Parliament Act which allows the police to detain him indefinitely - though it is expected that he will be released this evening.

The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC2 tonight at 7pm. The programme features horrific images of Nazi concentration camps and moving testimony from survivors, many of whom started a new life in the UK. However, as we remember those who died at the hands of the Nazis, today many asylum seekers await deportation back to the countries they have fled.

ENDS