A political diary written by the wife of a former Conservative minister includes two references to the alleged involvement of a “Jewish lobby” in Westminster.

Lady Sasha Swires’s newly published  Diary of an MP's Wife  has been the subject of widespread media coverage – largely as a result of lurid claims about the actions of senior figures in the Tory Party, including former Prime Minister David Cameron.

But the book, published after her husband Sir Hugo Swire lost his East Devon seat at the last election, having served the constituency since 2001, includes one claim that that an “investigation into the Jewish lobby infiltrating parliament” was being conducted by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee under chair Crispin Blunt MP.

Holocaust Educational Trust chief executive Karen Pollock was amongst those to criticise "the casual, blasé use" of the term "Jewish lobby" in the newly published book.

In a second reference – over claims that Jeremy Corbyn was ready to appoint a Minister for Jews if he became PM – Lady Swire  also wrote: “My God, the Jewish lobby will be throwing the kitchen sink at this one!”

Lady Swire also makes reference to Mr Corbyn’s pro-Palestinian political beliefs. She writes of “the fact he shakes hands with Palestinian freedom fighters” before adding, “(that’s the only bit of him I like too).”

In January 2017, it was confirmed that in the wake of Al Jazeera TV documentary The Lobby,  the Foreign Affairs Select Committee would investigate lobbying on behalf of “foreign states and interested parties.”

Mr Blunt is a long-time critic of Israel. But despite the claims made in Lady Swire’s book, the terms of reference for his committee’s inquiry included no such reference to a “Jewish lobby.”

Meanwhile, the second controversial reference to the same “Jewish lobby” was written by the book’s author as she discussed Mr Corbyn’s  “left wing loony” beliefs.

In 2015 it was first reported that the former Labour leader was considering appointing a Minister for Jews to try to bridge the issues he had with the community.

Reacting to Lady Swire’s “Jewish lobby” references, HET's Ms  Pollock condemned what she said was  “the casual, blasé use of these terms that suggests it is acceptable in certain circles.”

Dave Rich, the Community Security Trust's director of communications,  tweeted: ”Sasha Swire says Crispin Blunt got the Foreign Affairs Committee to hold an inquiry into 'the Jewish lobby infiltrating parliament'.

“The actual 2017 inquiry only mentioned 'foreign states and interested parties'. Nice to have it confirmed it was the Jews he had in mind.”