A Labour MP has apologised for his party’s failure to retain the support of the Jewish community in London.

In a letter of congratulations to newly elected Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush, MP for Tottenham David Lammy said: “I was so disappointed that Labour lost the trust of so many in the Jewish community, especially in London. As you know I want to be Labour’s Mayor of London for all of London’s communities. So it falls to me to apologise for this sorry state of affairs. I never want to go back to a situation where so many Jewish Londoners found it difficult to support Labour. This is something I feel very strongly about.”

The MP, who comfortably held Tottenham for Labour at the election, added that he hoped he and Mr Arkush could meet soon "to rebuild trust and help me develop sensible policies that will serve London well.”

Mr Lammy, who is hoping to be selected as Labour’s candidate for Mayor of London in the 2016 election, began the letter by wishing Mr Arkush “hearty congratulations and ‘Mazal tov’” on his election.

Mr Arkush succeeded Vivian Wineman as president of the Board of Deputies after beating rivals Alex Brummer and Laura Marks at the election on Sunday.