Emily Thornberry, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, will attend a high-profile event to commemorate the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, the party has confirmed.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had declined an invitation to the dinner in London next month.

A spokesman for the Leader of the Opposition said on Friday  "Jeremy is unable to attend this event, but Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will be attending."

Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, has called Mr Corbyn’s absence “deeply unfortunate”.

It was Ms Thornberry rather than the Labour leader who appeared at a Labour Friends of Israel reception during the party’s conference last month.

On that occasion, she said a Labour government would recognise a Palestinian state, adding that it was the “appropriate time”given the Balfour centenary