The deputy prime minister of Israel described how poverty had “been a scar on my body” as he championed the power of education during a lunchtime visit to Camden Town last Thursday.

Israeli interior minister Silvan Shalom said being born into a poor family in Israel’s under-resourced periphery had seen him become one of the few in his community to go on to university, achieving five degrees and becoming one of the country’s most influential figures.

He was speaking at Ort House in Albert Street as part of an event organised by education group ORT.

He said: “I have seen so many smart friends of mine who haven’t made it only because they couldn’t afford [education] and that’s something that has been a scar on my body. We must do something to change the situation.”