cover letter for job after long break

2024 Virtual Return to Work Conference, May 14-16

Cover letters and references after a career break.

Describing your career gap to potential employers

By Vivian Steir Rabin

Vivian Steir Rabin is the co-founder of iRelaunch and the co-author of Back on the Career Track (affiliate link). She is a relauncher, having relaunched her career in executive search after a 7 year career break. Vivian left iRelaunch in late 2014 in order to focus full time on VSR Advisors , a retained executive search firm focused on commercial real estate and financial services for which she serves as Managing Director and Principal.

“I’ve been out of the workforce for several years,” a reader e-mailed me. "Should I address the gap on my resume in a cover letter? What about salary requirements? And what do I do about the fact that all my references are from 10+ years ago, besides the PTA president. (I’ve already told my 12-year-old that I’m not going to use her, even though she’s teaching me power point!)"

Here’s how I responded:

If you haven’t explained the gap on your resume, then by all means explain it in a cover letter. In fact, even if you have a line on your resume about your career break, address the issue in your cover letter as well. Do it briefly and unapologetically. (See the sample below.) Do not go on and on about why you stayed home.

The key is to address the gap (so prospective employers don’t think you were in jail or conjure up other unseemly excuses for your absence from the workforce) and make it clear that you’re ready to return to work now. Employers are less concerned about the gap per se and more concerned about whether you’re logistically and psychologically ready to work and whether you have the skills, despite your absence, to perform on the job.

Your goal, in your cover letter, is to reassure them, briefly, that you are ready, willing and able to return to work.

D o not mention salary requirements at all in a cover letter, nor during the first few interviews. Wait until the employer brings it up.

As far as references go, you do not need to mention them in the cover letter or resume. But you should try to line up 2-3 references, even if they’re from years ago. (One of the three could be from your recent volunteer work, like the PTA president). Email or call your old bosses, tell them you’re seeking to return to the workforce, and ask them if they’re willing to serve as a reference. Assure them that you’ll only give their name and phone number to those who are seriously interested in hiring you. Thank them profusely. Although you haven’t spoken in years, if you did good work, they should be willing to vouch for you. And, who knows, maybe they’ll even have a job lead!

Sample Relauncher Cover Letter:

I am very interested in the A opportunity at Company B, and believe my skills and experience make me a strong candidate. As you can see from the attached resume, I spent X years doing very similar work as a Y at Z Company. In addition, I developed C skills in my D years at E Company. Although I have focused on my family for the last G years and have not worked for pay, I have kept up with developments in the field by reading Most Important Trade Magazines 1 and 2 and attending H conferences. I’ve also updated my computer skills so I’m ready to hit the ground running. Finally, my involvement with I Volunteer Organization has honed my organizational and interpersonal skills.

I am very eager to return to the workforce and believe my pent-up enthusiasm for work, combined with my relevant educational and professional credentials, will help me contribute meaningfully to the organization.

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my potential fit for this position by phone or in person at your convenience.

Sincerely, Jane Realdough

Check out our resource center for more free sample cover letters and relauncher resume downloads!

Visit resource center, don't relaunch alone.

Join our growing relauncher communities on Facebook and LinkedIn . For more great guidance on your relaunch and updates on when return to work programs are accepting applications, events for relaunchers and more, be sure to sign up for our Return to Work Report and follow us on social media to stay informed!

• linkedin-in

You May Also Like

EP 286: Networking Makes the Difference When Relaunching with Mary Catherine Malley, rebroadcast

EP 285: The Stigma of Long Term Unemployment and What to Do About It, with sociologist Ofer Sharone

Kristin Calhoun's Relaunch Success Story

All Courses

• Interview Questions
• Career Guide
• Success Stories
• PGP in Data Science and Business Analytics
• PG Program in Data Science and Business Analytics Classroom
• PGP in Data Science and Engineering (Data Science Specialization)
• PGP in Data Science and Engineering (Bootcamp)
• PGP in Data Science & Engineering (Data Engineering Specialization)
• Master of Data Science (Global) – Deakin University
• MIT Data Science and Machine Learning Course Online
• Master’s (MS) in Data Science Online Degree Programme
• MTech in Data Science & Machine Learning by PES University
• Data Analytics Essentials by UT Austin
• Data Science & Business Analytics Program by McCombs School of Business
• MTech In Big Data Analytics by SRM
• M.Tech in Data Engineering Specialization by SRM University
• M.Tech in Big Data Analytics by SRM University
• PG in AI & Machine Learning Course
• Weekend Classroom PG Program For AI & ML
• AI for Leaders & Managers (PG Certificate Course)
• Artificial Intelligence Course for School Students
• IIIT Delhi: PG Diploma in Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning PG Program
• MIT No-Code AI and Machine Learning Course
• Study Abroad: Masters Programs
• MS in Information Science: Machine Learning From University of Arizon
• SRM M Tech in AI and ML for Working Professionals Program
• UT Austin Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Leaders & Managers
• UT Austin Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Program Online
• MS in Machine Learning
• IIT Roorkee Full Stack Developer Course
• IIT Madras Blockchain Course (Online Software Engineering)
• IIIT Hyderabad Software Engg for Data Science Course (Comprehensive)
• IIIT Hyderabad Software Engg for Data Science Course (Accelerated)
• IIT Bombay UX Design Course – Online PG Certificate Program
• Online MCA Degree Course by JAIN (Deemed-to-be University)
• Cybersecurity PG Course
• Online Post Graduate Executive Management Program
• Product Management Course Online in India
• NUS Future Leadership Program for Business Managers and Leaders
• PES Executive MBA Degree Program for Working Professionals
• Online BBA Degree Course by JAIN (Deemed-to-be University)
• MBA in Digital Marketing or Data Science by JAIN (Deemed-to-be University)
• Master of Business Administration- Shiva Nadar University
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) by Great Lakes
• Online MBA Programs
• Cloud Computing PG Program by Great Lakes
• University Programs
• Stanford Design Thinking Course Online
• Design Thinking : From Insights to Viability
• PGP In Strategic Digital Marketing
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management
• Master of Business Administration Degree Program
• MS in Business Analytics in USA
• MS in Machine Learning in USA
• Study MBA in Germany at FOM University
• M.Sc in Big Data & Business Analytics in Germany
• Study MBA in USA at Walsh College
• MS Data Analytics
• MS Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• MS in Data Analytics
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MS in Information Science: Machine Learning
• MS in Machine Learning Online
• MIT Data Science Program
• AI For Leaders Course
• Data Science and Business Analytics Course
• Cyber Security Course
• PG Program Online Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning
• PG Program Online Cloud Computing Course
• Data Analytics Essentials Online Course
• MIT Programa Ciencia De Dados Machine Learning
• MIT Programa Ciencia De Datos Aprendizaje Automatico
• Program PG Ciencia Datos Analitica Empresarial Curso Online
• Mit Programa Ciencia De Datos Aprendizaje Automatico
• Online Data Science Business Analytics Course
• Online Ai Machine Learning Course
• Online Full Stack Software Development Course
• Online Cloud Computing Course
• Cybersecurity Course Online
• Online Data Analytics Essentials Course
• Ai for Business Leaders Course
• Mit Data Science Program
• No Code Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Program
• MS Information Science Machine Learning University Arizona
• Wharton Online Advanced Digital Marketing Program
• Opening Statement
• Why are you suitable for the job?
• Explain The Gap
• How can you contribute to the organisation?
• Reiterate/ Summarise
• Closing statement

Cover Letter Template for Career Break

There is a range of different reasons why professionals might take up a career break. It could be to take care of an ailing family member, personal health issues, taking a break from work for mental health, relocation to a new city, taking care of infants and young kids, and many others. Whatever the reason be, getting back into the workforce is a daunting experience. Especially if you are getting into the professional world after a break of multiple years, the technologies and the processes would have evolved and that diminishes your chances to be employed at par with your last position and salary. 

In this article, we will help you understand how to write a perfect cover letter or CV after a career break and how to build your resume . Let’s get started with the structure of the cover letter or CV.

• Opening statement/ paragraph
• Explain the gap
• How can you contribute to the organization?
• Reiterate/Summarize your interest in the role
• Closing statement/ paragraph

Play it safe when you are writing the opening statement for your cover letter. Start with a brief explanation of the position you are applying for and how did you find your vacancy. Keep it relevant and to the point and make sure it is short and not a prolonged paragraph. 

Below is an example of an opening statement:

“I wish to apply for the role of data science executive featured on iimjobs.com. I have enclosed a CV for your consideration.”

At this stage do not consider anything about your career gap. Here, you mention all your skills and list down all the achievements that you have had in your previous stints. List out your academic and vocational qualifications, relevant certifications, that will help you showcase your suitability for the role. This section will essentially prove that despite your career break, you still possess the skills, qualities, and mindset to pursue the role. 

Pro Tip: Always try to quantify your achievements with the results that you achieved. For example, a 30% increase in revenue.

In the third paragraph, take the opportunity to explain your career gap as briefly as possible. But in your quest to make it short and crisp do not limit your explanation and ensure it is thorough. Also, define why is it the right role for you to return to the workforce. When it comes to career gaps, recruiters fear that candidates would not be ready to return to work. Alleviate such fears for the recruiters in this section and explain your worth. 

Example: 

“In March 2016, I gave birth to my daughter and took some time off work to give her all the care she needed. Now, she has started to go to school full-time and I am ready to restart my career and determined to take up new professional challenges.”

Also Read: Six ways to make your CV stand out from the crowd

Once the career gap is addressed and explained, you need to tell the recruiter how you will be a valuable addition to their organisation. You can do this by listing out all that you have done to improve your skills and broaden your knowledge base. This will include certifications, specialised courses, volunteer work, relevant projects you have worked on, letter of recommendation (if you have any). 

You can easily overcome your career gap by reinforcing your credentials and present yourself boldly with confidence and facts. 

“During my career break, I kept a track of how data science is improving and growing as a professional field and signed up for a data science certification course with great learning . I am now a certified data science practitioner and have proved my skills in the capstone project I did as a part of my curriculum. I have attached a brief about my project on “credit card fraud detection” with this cover letter.”

Here you would summarise your interest in the role and organisation and how you would be the right fit. 

I am confident that I can bring the required level of expertise to the role and help the organisation in building well-functioning data science models and solutions. I am available to start immediately and see myself grow along with the organisation for the long term. 

Thank the employer for their time and consideration while closing the letter an sign off with an appropriate salutation such as “Yours sincerely”, or “Yours faithfully”.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you for an interview and take my application further. 

Yours sincerely,

Always remember that taking time off your career to take care of a personal commitment is nothing to be ashamed of. Life happens and it is not a reflection of your work. As times are changing, many employers are becoming increasingly considerate and understanding when it comes to gaps in employment history. 

Therefore, never be tempted to hide your career gap as you will risk your entire application if the recruiter comes to know otherwise. Focus on the positives and assure the employer that you are ready to return to work and possess all the required knowledge and skills for the role under consideration. 

Also Read: Most Common Interview Questions and Free Resume Builder

Top Free Courses

How to Answer ‘Reason for a Job Change’

Best Career Options After 12th Commerce

Career Options after 12th Arts in 2024

Top 25 Highest Paying Jobs In India

Career Objective for Resume for Freshers (with Examples)

My biggest professional challenge was the latest technology shift regarding the various Cloud implementations

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Table of contents

• Site Search
• Candidate Portal Login
• Meet the Team
• Testimonials
• Investor Relations
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Work at Airswift
• Talent Acquisition
• Global Employment Outsourcing
• Global Mobility
• Workforce & HR Consulting
• RPO & Managed Services
• Infrastructure
• Oil & Gas
• Process, Mining & Manufacturing
• Renewable Energy
• Case Studies
• Country Hiring Guides

How to explain a career break in your cover letter

June 14, 2021

Source: iStock/Brothers91

There are several valid reasons why you may need to take a break from your career for months or even years at a time.

Perhaps you need to care for a child or family member, or perhaps you took a break to travel, volunteer for a worthy cause, or work on a personal project.

Some of the most common reasons for a CV gap include:

• Time taken off due to illness 
• Caring for a relative 
• Made redundant from a previous role 
• Looking for a job
• Childcare responsibilities
• Going back into education 

Whatever the case may be, it can still feel a little awkward explaining your career break to prospective employers once you return to the job market.

With that in mind, here are some tips that can help you explain your career break in your cover letter.

Focus on what you can offer 

First of all, you don't want your cover letter to sound like a defence of why you had to take some time away from work.

Very few employers are going to worry much about your career break unless they think you're not ready to return to work, or there is some underlying factor that will affect your work with them.

Otherwise, your recruiter just wants to know why you would be the right person for the job.

With that in mind, focus on the positives you can offer your prospective employer

Instead of addressing your career gap immediately, talk about your accomplishments in previous roles. For example:

• Did you help to increase revenues for your former company?
• Did you help to finish a major project on time and within budget?
• Did you receive any specific recognition for your work?

Think about what you can share that will demonstrate your competence, industriousness, and expertise to the recruiter.

After all, the main reason you're writing the cover letter in the first place is to make yourself look as attractive to the company as possible.

Don't try to hide your career break

Even though your qualifications and value to the prospective employer should make up the bulk of your cover letter, you still need to explain your absence from the workforce at some point.

Never give in to the temptation to hide your career gap, or gloss over it.

Granted, there may be a small possibility that the recruiter overlooks the gap; but if the recruiter finds out at a later stage of the hiring process, it could become an issue. In this situation, as in all others, honesty is the best policy.

At the same time, it's a good idea to mention why you think this role is the right fit for you coming back into the workforce.

Perhaps you could reiterate your previous experience in similar roles, or how you've kept your skills sharp during your absence.

Source: Shutterstock/GP Pixstock

Don't give out unnecessary details 

When it's time for you to explain your career break in the cover letter, keep the explanation brief and concise.

Remember, you don't have to go in-depth as to why you left your previous job.

For example, let's say that you decided to leave work to care for your elderly parents. The recruiter doesn’t need to know the details about how you came to make the decision, as it is very personal to you.

Instead, you could briefly state something such as: In [insert year], I took some time away from work to care for my parents. It's simple, to the point, and tells the recruiter all they need to know about the situation.

Looking for your next job?

At Airswift, we are committed to helping employees in the energy, process and infrastructure industries find the right job.

If you'd like to explore current openings in your field, sign up to our jobs board today.

This post was written by: Mariana Santos, Delivery Center Manager – Global Recruitment & Training

Looking for your next role?

You may also be interested in…

How to create a LinkedIn profile for job search

Things to consider before joining a startup

How to conduct an effective job search

Resume writing tips - how can job seekers stand out?

10 Tips for using social media in your job search

Expert tips for writing an impressive resume summary

Transferrable skills within the energy sector: challenges and opportunities

Is this a fake recruiter? Six recruitment scam red flags

Hiring for startups: Navigating 5 hiring obstacles faced by engineering SMEs

How can power firms improve their environmental image problem?

Related posts...

• Privacy Policy
• Web Design Manchester by Carbon Creative

The Best Career Break Cover Letter Tips

So, you are ready to get back out there and give it your best shot. You already have your resume all done and written, and it looks good. There is only one little bump on your road to success – there is an employment gap in your resume.

If that gap is a month long, or even two , employers won’t look into it too much. You can probably make it work even with a 6-month resume gap. However, if your gap is longer, you will need to address it.

Why is the resume gap such a big deal? You are the same person before and after it, aren’t you?

The truth is – some are and some aren’t. There are people who are not able to hold down a job due to many reasons. Some of them are justified and some of them aren’t.

The recruiters are afraid that they will invest the company’s time, money and resources in the wrong person.

It is up to you to explain that you are a real professional who is ready to get back in the saddle. Sometimes, this is easier said than done.

Here are some of the issues people worry about when it comes to writing their cover letter:

• Is my cover letter just a copy of my CV?
• Is my work still relevant after all this time?
• Should I say what I was doing all this time?

Answers to these questions are actually some of the main rules and guidelines for writing a cover letter, so let’s start with them.

Main Rules for Career Break Cover Letter

There are many specific rules for writing a cover letter, but let’s start with some general principles and work our way down to the specifics.

• No. Your cover letter is not simply your resume in a longer, differently structured form. The recruiters have already seen your CV. They don’t need to learn the facts from it all over again. Your cover letter is another chance to prove that you are the perfect candidate. Use it to explain why you are the perfect fit and what you love about the job. Also, use it to address your employment gap.
• Keep it short . Your cover letter should never exceed one A4 page. Even that is a stretch. Keep it short, informative and to the point.
• Make it original . Recruiters will get hundreds of cover letters. If yours is generic and doesn’t respond to the job posting they created, it will fail. Recruiters can spot generic letters from a mile away.
• Include professional contact details . Don’t use email addresses that belong to a member of your family, or the emails that are funny. If possible, create a special, professional email address just for job applications.
• Mind how you start and finish your cover letter . Start it by addressing the employer or recruiter by their name (if you can discover it) and finish it with ‘Yours sincerely’.

Three Main Elements of a Career Break Cover Letter

It is time to get a bit more specific and to deal with the elements that are a part of every well-written cover letter. You need an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Simple, right? Well, yes and no.

There are a lot of details in these three elements and there is a lot to be said about each of them. Let’s start with the introduction and list some tips on how to write it well.

Cover Letter Introduction

Keep the introduction brief, clear and to the point. Explain who you are and what is it that you do. Emphasize your career and not on your break.

This is also the moment when you should mention the position you are applying for. Make it all as short as an elevator pitch.

After you have introduced yourself, it is time to address the break. Give it a sentence or even just a half of it .

Simply state that you are “enthusiastic to get back to work after a 4-year parental break.” Mention why this position is just perfect for you to return to work.

The last part of this section should be dedicated to listing the activities you had during your break. Maybe you did some training, attended some refresher courses, or volunteered.

Perhaps you took the time to take a course for online work . Anything that shows you used your time to keep your old skills fresh or to gain some new ones is useful.

Cover Letter Body

This part of your cover letter is all about listing your achievements, accomplishments, skills, and explaining why you are the best fit for the job.

Your letter should make you shine, so go through these useful tips before you type a work of it.

Start by analyzing the job advert . Take a look at the top 4-6 requirements for the position. Then go through your work history and skills list and make a match.

The point is to provide evidence from your work history that you have what it takes to fulfill the role.

Remember, you only need to list those skills that are mentioned in the job advert or those that are closely related to them. Don’t go on listing everything you can do.

You are creating too much text in which the relevant skills for the job will simply drown and become invisible.

When listing your skills, keep in mind that there are those phrases that were used so much, they lost every meaning.

Words like “team player”, “detail oriented”, and similar, only take up precious space without adding anything to your cover letter.

Also, it is time to answer one of those three questions from the beginning – i t is absolutely OK to list former skills , roles, and abilities that you had before your break.

They are yours, after all! These skills aren’t gone. They just need a bit of brushing up and you are good to go.

Additionally, don’t be afraid of gaining new skills. Your ability to learn is also intact. Just because you took some time off, it doesn’t mean that this ability has disappeared.

It may seem to you that those skills and achievements stayed in the past because you cannot remember them all, either. In that case, dig through your old performance reviews or similar reports.

You can also call some old colleagues, as well. That can give you a better idea about what you have to offer.

Cover Letter Conclusion 

This is the part where you sum it all up. Research the company website and social media profiles and learn about the specifics.

Then include those details, so that it shows you have done your research. Use them as the reason you want to join the company.

Once you establish that you are interested in working with this company, point out, one more time, why they should pick you for the job position they are offering. Sum up why you can benefit the company.

At last, finish your cover letter with a polite greeting. One of the good choices is “Yours sincerely”. Sign your full name and that’s it! You are done!

These are some general and some more specific tips for each section of the career break cover letter.

As you can see, this letter should only mention the fact you had a career break. A brief explanation is all it takes. You should not dwell on that fact.

While you have probably been busy during your time off work, it is always a good idea to, at least, take a course so that you can prove you have been busy and proactive.  

Luckily for you the choice of online courses today is great , especially if you are trying to start an online career. It is definitely worth looking into.

Katrina McKinnon

I'm Katrina McKinnon, the author behind Small Revolution . With two decades of hands-on experience in online work, running eCommerce stores, web agency and job boards, I'm now on a mission to empower you to work from home and achieve work-life balance. My passion lies in crafting insightful, education content. I have taught thousands of students and employees how to write, do SEO, manage eCommerce stores and work as Virtual Assistants. Join our most popular course: SEO Article Masterclass

Write A Comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Politics latest: PM 'appalled' by police protest row; Truss backs Trump and Sunak to win elections

Former prime minister Liz Truss has blamed her downfall on "deep resistance within the establishment" in an interview with Sky News. Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer has said the Tories have "lost any right" to call themselves patriotic.

Sunday 21 April 2024 13:51, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Liz Truss refuses to apologise for higher interest rates in Sky News interview
• 'I want Rishi Sunak to win' - Truss
• Adam Boulton: What Truss and Trump have in common
• PM 'appalled' by police protest row
• Met Police chief's resignation 'not the way forward' - Labour
• Rishi Sunak 'not a real Conservative', Reform leader claims
• General election date 'above my pay grade' - Sunak ally
• Labour vows to get prisons built
• Tap here to subscribe to Electoral Dysfunction
• Live reporting by Charlotte Chelsom-Pill

In case you missed Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, we have a recap of one of the interviews on the programme.

Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, claimed Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is "not a real Conservative".

He pointed to the high tax burden and even went as far as calling Mr Sunak a "socialist".

Read the full story below:

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is "appalled" by an exchange at a pro-Palestinian protest in which a Met Police officer threatened to arrest an "openly Jewish man", a government source has told Sky News.

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley is facing calls to resign after antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest near the protest march in London ( see post at 08.36am ).

Mr Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Jewish Londoners cannot have confidence in the Met under Sir Mark's leadership and accused the commissioner of "victim blaming".

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho earlier told Sky News the incident was "completely wrong" and that "what happens next" with regard to Sir Mark was a "matter for the Labour London mayor" ( see post at 08.40am ).

Sky News understands that Sir Mark does still retain the confidence of London mayor Sadiq Khan (see post at 11.46am) .

By Adam Boulton , Sky News commentator 

Liz Truss has much more in common with Donald Trump than just the first three letters of his surname.

Despite presenting themselves as "outsiders", both enjoyed substantial political careers and reached the top of their profession as prime minister of the UK and president of the United States respectively.

In both cases, their periods in power ended in ways that outraged their opponents and many in their own Conservative and Republican parties. Economic chaos brought on by her rash policies forced Truss out of office after just 49 days in 10 Downing Street.

Trump lost the 2020 election, refused to accept his defeat and praised the mob who stormed the Capitol in an attempt to keep him in the White House.

Many thought they were finished for good. But like those who had laughed at their ambitions earlier in their careers, the nay-sayers were wrong again. Both have been reprieved and continue to be respected as forces in their parties.

Read more here:

Conservative MP Mark Menzies has been suspended from the parliamentary party in light of allegations he abused local Tory party funds to pay off "bad people".

Mark Menzies strongly disputes the claims which also include accusations he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills.

On the Conservatives' investigation into the claims, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News this week action was being taken "swiftly".

He added: "I think it is important to stress that the MP in question here denies the allegations and so on the basis of fairness and proper justice, I think it's important to mention that."

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by political correspondent Darren McCaffrey to analyse how Westminster will cope with another scandal.

Plus, the Scottish government has come under fire for rowing back on its climate commitments.

Niall speaks to science correspondent Thomas Moore about the consequences of the government missing eight out of 12 of its annual climate commitments.

👉 Listen above then tap here to follow the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈

The head of the Met Police is to meet Jewish community leadership groups amid a row over the force threatening to arrest an "openly Jewish man".

Sir Mark Rowley will meet representatives from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust (CST). 

Confirming the meeting, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said they would be discussing this "serious issue".

Sir Mark is facing calls to resign after antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest near a pro-Palestinian march in London ( see post at 08.36am ).

Campaign Against Antisemitism have told Sky News they have not been invited to the meeting.

Sky News understands the meeting is expected to take place on Thursday or Friday.

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

With the local election campaign well under way, Labour is still sitting comfortably on a roughly 21-point lead, averaging at 43.6% in the polls, with the Tories on 23.1%.

In third is Reform UK on 12.3%, followed by the Lib Dems on 9.2%.

The Green Party stands at 6.5%, and the SNP on 3.1%.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

Labour "will get prisons built," the shadow justice secretary has said. 

Shabana Mahmood made the pledge earlier today on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

She was asked how a Labour government would deal with growing prisoner numbers over the next five years should they win the next election.

Ms Mahmood said: "The money is there in the ministry of justice budget already. 

"It's just that the Tory government has completely failed to actually get the prison spaces built that we need in this country. 

"They had a target themselves... They failed on that target. 

"Where government has failed, we will deliver."

Alongside "getting prisons built", she said Labour plans to invest in neighbourhood policing and bring in respect orders. 

"We have a big problem with antisocial behaviour and we have to deal with it so that we can reclaim our high streets," she said.

By Beth Rigby , political editor

This is a tale that's more than just a marmalade dropper. It's a story so astounding you have to pick yourself up off the floor.

Mark Menzies MP last December allegedly made a 3.15am phone call to an elderly party volunteer asking for £5,000 as a matter of "life or death" because he had been locked up by "bad people".

To secure his release, the money was paid by his office manager from her personal account and reimbursed from funds raised from donors, according to The Times . The newspaper also alleges Mr Menzies received thousands of pounds from campaign funds into his personal bank account which were used for personal medical expenses.

I will say from the outset that these are claims Mr Menzies, the MP for the Lancashire seat of Fylde, "strongly disputes".

In a statement to The Times, he said: "I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I have fully complied with all the rules for declarations. As there is an investigation ongoing I will not be commenting further."

But when the story broke, Conservative chief whip Simon Hart suspended Mr Menzies from the parliamentary party pending the outcome of an investigation.

It is a mega story. Not just because of the staggering, astounding, eye-popping - take your pick - nature of the allegations, but the questions it throws up: If this had happened over three months ago, why is it only now that the Conservative Party are suspending the whip? Was there misuse of money and what are the implications of that? Can Mr Menzies really continue as an MP?

Read Beth's full analysis below:

👉 Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Email Beth, Jess, and Ruth at  [email protected] , post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.

Sadiq Khan has confidence in Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley despite him facing calls to quit over the force's handling of a recent pro-Palestine protest, Sky News understands.

It comes after Energy Secretary Claire Coutino told Sky News that the incident in London - in which an officer was captured on video calling a man "openly Jewish" and threatening him with arrest - was "completely wrong" and that "what happens next" with regard to Sir Mark was a "matter for the Labour London mayor".

Sky News understands that Sir Mark does still retain the confidence of Mr Khan, who as mayor has the power to effectively sack the commissioner - but can only do so with the permission of the home secretary, who can also require the mayor to dismiss the head of the Met.

A spokesperson for the London mayor said: "Everybody must feel safe going about in London wherever they please. The way the original incident was dealt with by the Met was concerning and the original response put out by them was insensitive and wrong.

"The Met have an extremely difficult job - particularly so when it comes to operational decisions taken while policing marches.

"But in the end the Met must have the confidence of the communities they serve and it is right that they have apologised for the way the incident was handled and their original public response."

There is a lengthy list of MPs taking part in the London Marathon today - and for some it's far from their first time on the track.

Among the runners are 20 MPs and peers, the most in the event’s history.

They include Chancellor Jeremy Hunt who is running the race for the third time. He says hitting the tarmac again is "a bit crazy to do it at my ripe old age of 57," promising "this is the last".

Other MPs include:

• Duncan Baker - Conservative MP for North Norfolk;
• Alun Cairns - Conservative MP for Vale of Glamorgan. He says he is running the race for the tenth time ;
• Dehenna Davison - Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland. She is taking part for the second time;
• Thangam Debbonaire - Labour shadow secretary of state for culture and sport;
• David Linden - SNP MP for Glasgow East. He says it is his sixth London Marathon;
• Matt Hancock - Independent MP for West Suffolk;
• Dan Jarvis - Labour MP for Barnsley Central;
• Paul Scully - Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam;
• Edward Timpson - Conservative MP for Eddisbury. He says he is running the marathon for the 18th time;
• Will Quince - Conservative MP for Colchester;
• James Wild - Conservative MP for North West Norfolk. He is running for the fifth time;
• Bambos Charalambous - Labour MP for Enfield Southgate.

You can follow our live blog on the London Marathon below:

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free