Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has received a "personal call" from Sir Keir Starmer on Yom Hashoah in which the Labour leader stressed his commitment to repairing the breakdown in relations between the party and the community under Jeremy Corbyn.

Rabbi Mirvis wrote on Tuesday: "Thank you to Sir Keir Starmer for his personal call today to convey his solidarity with the Jewish community as we mark Yom Hashoah.

"I welcomed hearing directly of his commitment to take the necessary action to root out antisemitism from the Labour Party as a top priority. It is heartening that the task of rebuilding the Jewish community’s trust in the Labour Party has begun."

Last month, in an interview with the JC before he was voted new Labour leader on April 4, Sir Keir promised to "restore" the "important relationship’’ the Chief Rabbi.

Relations between Labour and the UK’s Chief Rabbi had reached an all time low in the run up to the last General Election in December.

So concerned was Rabbi Mirvis about the impact of a Corbyn-led government on British Jewish life, he made an unprecedented intervention in November, writing in the Times that the left-wing leader was "unfit for office".

Mr Corbyn said he would arrange a meeting with Rabbi Mirvis in an attempt to patch things up but this never materialised.

On Tuesday Sir Keir wrote: "It was an honour and privilege to speak to the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis on such a solemn day.

"I welcomed the opportunity to express my solidarity with the Jewish community on Yom HaShoah. Thank you for your time and I look forward to strengthening our ties."