A Labour candidate for a safe council seat has been revealed to have a history of antisemitic statements, including that "Rothschilds Zionists run Israel and world governments" and Labour is "infiltrated by sellouts who would sacrifice a Labour government for their 30 pieces of silver.”

Liam Moore, an evangelical vicar, was selected last week by the Labour party in Liverpool as its candidate for the seat in the city’s Norris Green ward.

On Monday, the Sun reported Mr Moore has a record of extreme statements.

In August, he tweeted: “We are seeing a very English right wing Zionist coup mate and sadly the Labour party is infiltrated by sellouts who would sacrifice a Labour government for their 30 pieces of silver.”

In April, he wrote on Facebook: “When you see right wing politicians or commentaries, protesting, condemning people standing against Israel’s treatment of Palestine, you know that it’s the Zionism machine in full flow, it’s not antisemitic, it’s humanity in solidarity crying out saying ‘Stop No More!”

The post included a picture with the caption “Zionism is not healthy for children and other living things.”

In 2014, he tweeted that “people understand Rothschilds Zionists run Israel and world governments, don’t give a toss about ordinary Jew, Jesus is coming back his [sic] people”.

The party has now launched an investigation, with a number of Labour MPs having responded with astonishment and anger when the news broke.

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, tweeted: “How was this person ever selected?”

Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North, said: “Someone with views like this should not even be in the Labour Party, let alone be selected as a candidate and the party and the leadership need to deal with it immediately.”

A Labour party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously, which are looked into and any appropriate disciplinary action taken in line with Party rules and procedures."