TV personality Martin Lewis stormed out of his synagogue after objecting to what he considered to be an overly-political, right-wing speech by a guest speaker at Shabbat service on Saturday.

Mr Lewis, a personal finance journalist, widely known as the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, told the JC that he opposed political discussions during religious services, “whether or not I agree with them”.

He and his wife, journalist Lara Lewington, left the Saatchi Shul service with their young daughter during the talk by Thane Rosenbaum, an American novelist, essayist and professor of law.

Mr Lewis, 46, said: “For me this is primarily a personal and private issue. I am uncomfortable with polemical political speakers within a religious service, whether or not I agree with them.

“I’ve made this point before so when this speaker came on I felt uncomfortable, and I decided it was no longer appropriate for me to remain in the shul that day. So my family and I left.”

The JC understands Mr Lewis and his family were the only congregants to leave the service.

The Saatchi Shul, formerly an independent congregation, is based in St John’s Wood in North West London. 

Rabbi Mendel Cohen, the synagogue’s minister, said: “At the Saatchi Shul we pride ourselves as an open congregation that welcomes individuals from across the community with a wide range of opinions. We also welcome a variety of speakers from across the social and political spectrum. 

“Our speaker last Shabbat offered a unique angle. He appears frequently in the New York Times and on CNN. 

“While politics can inspire strong reactions, we never seek to offend. Indeed, Saatchi Shul is known for being a very personal community.”

Prof Rosenbaum frequently focuses on topics such as justice, Israel and Islam. In an address at an American shul in 2015, he claimed that “there is no compromise in the Muslim mindset”.