A Jewish peer who opposes plans for the Holocaust memorial in Westminster has accused the Board of Deputies of a “slur” in suggesting those who object risk bringing "deep international shame" on themselves.

Last week, Marie van der Zyl, the Board’s president, also warned Westminster City Council it would “send the wrong signal to society” at a time of increasing antisemitic incidents and urged anyone thinking of objecting to the plans to “think again” of victims of the Holocaust.

But Baroness Ruth Deech, one of the most vocal opponents against the application, attacked those who had sought to “politicise” the issue, saying her opposition to it was down to its impact on Victoria Tower Park Gardens by parliament.

Baroness Deech, one of eight cross-party peers who argued against the project in a letter to the Times last year, attacked the Board’s “ridiculous” position that Jewish opponents are unsympathetic to the Jewish community.

She said: “I’m sure [Mrs Van der Zyl] is well-meaning about this. Everyone who supports this is well-meaning. But you have to dig much deeper into Jewish history and the context.

“It is such a slur to accuse anyone who opposes that design and that location of being anti-Jewish and opposing remembrance of the Holocaust.

“Holocaust memorials, very sadly, do not appear to do anything to hold back the spread of antisemitism. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have another one. But you’ve got to stop and think what it’s supposed to achieve.

“We have five or six in this country already. Across Europe and indeed right around the world there are hundreds of Holocaust memorials and yet, especially in Europe, antisemitism is on the rise.

“If it’s turned down, put it somewhere else. No one is saying there shouldn’t be one.”

Mrs van der Zyl's statement came after it was revealed Westminster City Council leader Nickie Aiken had written to Ed Balls and Sir Eric Pickles, the co-chairs if the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, saying that the application was “heading towards an unfavourable recommendation”.

Although the Government has pledged its “unshakeable” support for the project, it has met with opposition from local residents, parliamentarians and the Royal Parks, which maintains the space.