More than 25 MPs and Lords have pledged to sign up to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Jews.

President of the Board of Deputies Vivian Wineman said: “We are very gratified by the speed and enthusiasm of the uptake. This is clearly an idea whose time has come.”

The signatories cannot officially sign up until the end of the Parliamentary recess, however the number represents five more than required to set up an APPG.

A statement from the Board said: “The Board will staff the group through its Public Affairs Team and the budget for the group will come from existing Board resources.”

The move to create the group has been widely criticised by communal figures, one source alleged that, outside the Board, “no one knew” about the new group until 24 hours before it was announced.