Jeremy Corbyn has written to the Jewish Labour Movement saying he recognises the “enormous stress” caused by antisemitism, as the group mulls cutting ties with his party after 99 years of affiliation.

The Labour leader’s letter was sent ahead meetings by the JLM on Wednesday night in London and Manchester were members of the 2,000-strong group will discuss whether they wish to remain affiliated to Labour.

In his letter, Mr Corbyn tells the group that it is his “great regret” that the “scourge” of antisemitism “does exist within our party”.

But he adds that he would want to meet with JLM to discuss “some of the misleading stories currently being reported about our complaints system.”

Mr Corbyn had made an earlier request to meet with the group last week, but it was turned down by JLM leaders who wished to sound out members views at the meetings on Wednesday.

Labour MPs Ruth Smeeth and Dame Margaret Hodge are both expected to attend the meeting in London where they will both express “deep concern” about ending the 99 year link between the JLM and Labour while also accepting they understand why some members feel it is time to break the link with the party.

In a separate letter to the JLM, 103 Labour MPs have written to acknowledge the party has “let down our Jewish members and supporters” over antisemitism.

The letter, organised by Stella Creasy,  vows to “call out” those who seek to “make solidarity with our Jewish comrades a test of our foreign policy.”

They wrote: "We urge our colleagues in the JLM - a proud affiliate and essential voice within Labour for 99 years - to stay and to work with us in the struggle against hatred and in building a better Britain and a more peaceful world."

While the letter includes the signatures of senior Labour figures such as Barry Gardiner, Stephen Doughty and Rachel Reeves – it is noticable how many members of Mr Corbyn’s shadow cabinet have not signed it.

The letter also sparked fury at JLM over the "offensive and insulting" suggestion its members were "less committed" to the party's platform.

A senior source said: "After three years of constant and growing racist abuse our members have faced, its disgraceful that the shadow cabinet should try to imply that those of us who've had enough of it all are somehow less committed to Labour values."