Lord Eric Pickles has announced he will step down as the UK’s Special Envoy on Post-Holocaust Issues at the end of April, bringing to a close nearly ten years in the role.

In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the former Conservative minister said that following the UK’s recent presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), “this feels like a natural time to leave.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Pickles highlighted the UK’s leadership in Holocaust remembrance and education, stating that last year’s presidency helped to further strengthen the IHRA.

While stepping back from the envoy role, Lord Pickles confirmed he will continue his work alongside Ed Balls as co-chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation. He said he now plans to devote his full energy to the long-awaited project of building the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre near Parliament.

In his letter, Pickles also pointed to progress made under his watch on issues such as the restitution of community and private property across Europe, though he voiced frustration over the lack of a private property restitution scheme in Poland. He noted the UK's contribution to the return of looted art and the drafting of key definitions addressing antisemitism and anti-Roma discrimination.

Sharing his thoughts on social media, Pickles wrote:
“Thank you for the support and encouragement over the years. I will remain a vocal supporter of the Jewish community and Israel.” Photo by Pontificake at English Wikipedia.