Defeated candidates may stand again

Andrew Dismore, the former Labour MP who fought two close contests against Tory Matthew Offord in 2010 and 2015, also said he would decide in the coming days whether to stand again.

An exclusive JC poll a year ago showed Jewish support for Labour had collapsed after months of stories about Jew-hatred in the party and Mr Corbyn’s association with Holocaust deniers, terrorists and antisemites.

At that time, 8.5 per cent of British Jews said they would vote Labour in an election. The poll put Jewish support for the Conservatives at 66.5 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats on 3.8 per cent and Ukip on 1.9 per cent.

Among other Jewish MPs outlining their intentions, Conservatives Andrew Percy, Jonathan Djanogly, Robert Halfon, Michael Fabricant, Richard Harrington, Julian Lewis, Michael Ellis, and Lucy Frazer all said they intended to defend their seats.

Sir Oliver Letwin, MP for West Dorset, had planned to retire from the Commons in 2020, but said he would stand in June.

Julian Huppert, the Lib Dem who lost his Cambridge seat two years ago by 599 votes to Labour, will stand again.

John Bercow denied rumours he might retire and said he would also seek a return as Speaker of the Commons.