Board of Deputies praises 'firm friends' in Boris Johnson's new Cabinet

"It's not just political. For some of us, it's personal."

Grant Shapps replaces Chris Grayling as Transport Secretary.

In an interview with the JC in 2010, Mr Shapps said: "I feel totally Jewish; I am totally Jewish. I don't eat pork, we only buy kosher meat and we don't mix meat and milk.

"I like being Jewish and I married a Jewish girl. It's like a way of life and it's good to be able to instil some of that sense of being in your kids.

"All of that makes me seem as though I am quite observant but actually the flipside of this is I don't know if there is a God or not.

"But one thing I am absolutely certain of is that God wouldn't care if you were Jewish or Christian or Muslim."

Board President Marie van der Zyl said: "We are very pleased to see many firm friends of the community taking their places on the front bench.

"We had a good relationship with Theresa May’s team, and look forward to continuing to advance the interests of the community with our many longstanding friends in Boris Johnson’s new government."