A BOURNEMOUTH rabbi is one of 68 Jewish leaders who have written to a national newspaper accusing the Labour party’s leadership of choosing to ignore the Jewish community.

The letter, signed by Rabbi Charles Wallach, who gives his address as Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, is being seen as 'unprecedented' within the Jewish community as it was signed by both progressive and ultra-orthodox rabbis.

It criticises the Labour party's decision to 'rewrite a definition of antisemitism accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, College of Policing, the Scottish parliament, the Welsh assembly, the National Union of Students, and 124 local authorities, including scores of Labour-held councils, including Haringey and Greater Manchester'.

The letter says the Labour party’s leadership has 'chosen to ignore those who understand antisemitism the best'.

"As British rabbis, it is with great regret that we find it necessary to write, yet antisemitism within sections of the Labour party has become so severe and widespread that we must speak out with one Jewish voice," the letter said.

"By claiming to know what’s good for our community, the Labour party’s leadership have chosen to act in the most insulting and arrogant way."

The letter is expected to re-ignite the on-going row between the UK Jewish community and the Labour Party, which has been accused of tolerating antisemitism in its ranks.