Nick Clegg has acknowledged the ongoing tension between his party and the Jewish community during a Chanucah reception at his official Whitehall residence.

He said he was aware of difficulties in the relationship following another year in which Liberal Democrat figures pushed for an arms embargo on Israel and made controversial statements about the country.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: “There’s no point pretending otherwise —– from time to time there are pinch points between the Jewish community and the party I lead.”

He did not refer specifically to his Bradford East MP David Ward, who faced no disciplinary action after he suggested he would “probably” fire a rocket at Israel if he lived in Gaza.

Mr Clegg said he was aware British Jews were living “through a time of heightened anxiety” over antisemitism and pledged to speak out about “the politics of vitriol, hatred and division”.