The Jewish Leadership Council has promised to co-operate with the Charity Commission after receiving a letter from the charity watchdog prompted by revelations of allegations against its former chief executive Jeremy Newmark.

A commission spokesman, quoted in The Times this morning, said it had not been previously aware of the allegations, which raised “serious potential regulatory concerns”.

The JLC has now confirmed that it has received an initial letter from the commission.

“We will be co-operating fully with them,” JLC chief executive Simon Johnson said.

Mr Newmark, who resigned from the JLC in aiutumn 2013 on the grounds of ill-health, has denied misusing the charity’s funds or claiming inappropriate expenses,  in response to allegations contained in an internal audit commissioned by the JLC prior to his departure and revealed by the JC this week.

Sir Mick Davis, who was chairman of the JLC at the time of Mr Newmark’s departure, said earlier this week that its trustee board had acted in accordance with advice received.

“Individual trustees ensured that the JLC’s accounts were made good and whole,” Sir Mik stated.  “Jeremy resigned due to ill health and the trustees agreed, with due regard to his welfare and that of his family, that no further action was warranted.”