Jonathan Arkush has announced that he will not seek a second term as Board of Deputies president.

In an email to deputies, Mr Arkush , said he did not intend to stand in the elections for Board honorary officers in May.

His time as president – and previously as vice-president – had been “intensive and demanding”, he said.

“I would not have had it any other way. But I have decided the time has now come to stand aside and let the Board have the benefit of a new leader who will bring fresh qualities and energies to the the role.

He added that he had “gone a long way” towards achieving the aims he had set out when he was elected in 2015, including enhancing the Board’s status and campaigning against extremists.

Jonathan Goldstein, chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, paid tribute to the Board leader.

He said: "Jonathan Arkush has dedicated himself to the UK Jewish community, to strengthening our ties with other diaspora communities and to Israel. As president of the Board of Deputies, he has played a most valuable role as an advocate and campaigner for a wide range of Jewish causes and organisations. For that, and for his service, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. 

Mr Goldstein added: “During my time as JLC Chair, I have built a relationship of trust and mutual respect with Jonathan with the hope of bringing the Board and JLC closer together. We have gone on a journey together over these last few months and I look forward to continuing down that path with his successor. I wish Jonathan only the best.”