A HOST of Jewish groups have honoured Bury South MP Ivan Lewis.

The Prestwich man, elected just last year, has been appointed a trustee of the Holocaust Education Trust.

Mr Lewis has also been installed as vice-chairman of the Inter Parliamentary Council Against Anti-semitism and the Labour Friends of Israel. He is an executive member of the Commonwealth Jewish Council.

Mr Lewis said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to these important organisations and hope to make a contribution to their development. They have done a lot of good work in a variety of areas, so I'm very pleased."

Mr Lewis has condemned recent remarks by Manchester MP Gerald Kaufman about the Jewish Board of Deputies.

Mr Kaufman had described the deputies as "pompous and ridiculous" after they cancelled a dinner with Foreign Secretary Robin Cook following his recent Israeli visit.

Mr Lewis said: "His remarks do nothing to help the peace process or the relations between the Government and the Jewish community.

"The board is the only representative body that the community has. It may have faults but it does its best."

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