The president of the Board of Deputies Jonathan Arkush has been criticised by Jewish Labour activists for saying that most Jews cannot trust the party.

In an interview with the London Evening Standard Mr Arkush said that the relationship between the Jewish community and the party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership had been under "deep strain".

Mr Arkush told the newspaper that far-left antisemitism now eclipsed that from the far-right, declaring: "Frankly, most people in the Jewish community can't trust Labour".

Jewish Labour supporter Andrew Gilbert, a former Board executive member, called the comments "unacceptable and irresponsible". Mr Arkush's job was "to maintain a civil and positive relationship with leaders of all parties without appearing to take sides," he said.

Jewish Labour movement chairman Jeremy Newmark said that to stand against Jew-hatred, communal leaders should avoid "partisan party politics".

But Mr Arkush stuck to his guns, saying this week that "there is an issue of trust, reflected by the growing number of senior Labour figures who are voicing deep concern about antisemitism in parts of the party".