Theresa May was the guest speaker at Maidenhead Synagogue’s AGM, restating her support for a two state solution as the best means to resolve the Middle East conflict.

“I believe the two state solution is still best, even though it appeared to be less in favour during the Trump years,” she said.

The former Prime Minister – and the shul’s local MP – also told congregants that she was enjoying her return to the back benches, which had allowed her to pursue causes close to her heart.

In particular, she opposed cuts to international aid, backed efforts to stop modern slavery, both sexual and in the workplace, and wanted to see the United Kingdom preserved.

Maidenhead minister Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain told the meeting that the shul’s motto for the past year had been: “The building is closed but the community is still open.”

Creative use of Zoom had enabled services, adult and children’s education and social events to continue much more successfully that would have been imagined at the outset of the pandemic

Martin Birch was re-elected as chair and there was heartening news that income had increased during the Covid crisis thanks to membership growth and donations.