A senior rabbi has called on all British Jews to exercise their “religious duty to vote” at the general election.

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, of Maidenhead Synagogue, said it was incumbent on Jews to use their ballot to block extremist groups.

In a memo circulated to all Reform movement rabbis in the UK, he wrote: “At a time when some parties are pushing divisive messages and pursuing racist policies, failure to use one’s vote allows extremist parties to claim a higher percentage of the national vote, or even gain seats.”

Rabbi Romain added: “Whilst viable economic policies are essential, they are not the only criteria by which parties should be judged, with the moral and social health of the country being equally important.”

But he fell short of recommending which parties should be supported. “It is inappropriate to lay down which party Jews should follow,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May has agreed to attend a question-and-answer session at Maidenhead Synagogue one week before the general election on May 7.

The Tory candidate, who holds a 16,769 majority in the Berkshire constituency, will attend alongside representatives of the other main parties.