David Cameron has told a Holocaust survivor how moved he was to read her book about her experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald.

Trude Levi, 85, was with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street this week when he signed the Holocaust Educational Trust's Book of Commitment, pledging to fight prejudice and hatred. Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are among other signatories.

Ms Levi said the Prime Minister had been genuinely interested in hearing more about her story.

"He told me he admired me and he wasn't just being polite - he stayed with me for five minutes even though his staff wanted him to go. He even came to speak to me after the ceremony."

Ms Levi was deported by the Nazis from her Hungarian home at the age of 20, forced to labour in a munitions factory and sent on a death march as the Allied forces approached.

It was important, she said, that politicians raised awareness about the Holocaust.

Mr Cameron noted that with fewer survivors around to tell their stories, "it is in fact more important than ever that we recall what happened and the terrible consequences.

"As well as recalling the dreadful suffering and murder in the ghettos and camps, we must also remember the genocide and hatred in our world today.

"From learning our history, we must pledge that it should not be repeated."

For more on Holocaust Memorial Day 2011 see our dedicated HMD page