Several other churches this week followed new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s lead in attacking the government’s welfare cuts.

But one spiritual leader staying out of the fray is Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, whose office said he was not planning to comment on the issue at present.

His predecessor Lord Jakobovits famously clashed with the Church of England over the welfare state. The then Chief Rabbi’s emphasis on self-help was far sweeter music to the Thatcher government than what was seen as the softy approach of a lefty church.