The Jewish politician hoping to be the next leader of the Labour party has wished Britain’s Jewish community “a happy, healthy and sweet new year of peace and prosperity.”

David Miliband said Rosh Hashanah was “an opportunity to look forward to the coming year, and also a period of reflection and soul searching.”

The MP and shadow foreign secretary added: "The New Year is a good time for us all to focus on the peace talks in the Middle East.

"There are those who want to knock the talks off course, often violently.

“We must hope that this year, peaceful talks will bring a peaceful settlement.

Mr Miliband, the son of the Jewish Marxist thinker Ralph Miliband, is competing against his younger brother Ed to become leader of the opposition.

The new leader will be chosen during Succot at the party conference.