A Councillor has been suspended from the Labour party after he shared a Facebook post referring to the “Rothschilds” and showing an antisemitic caricature of a hook-nosed figure.

According to the Guido Fawkes website, Councillor Andy Slack, of Chesterfield, shared the post from a group called “Can we get 1 million fans for Gaza” on September 30.

It said: “The modern state of Israel was created by the Rothschilds, not God, and what they are doing to the Palestinian people now is EXACTLY what they intend for the whole world.”

The post also included a photo, supposedly of a Palestinian father weeping over his dead infant, with the words “Today its a Palestinian child, soon it will be your child.”

It also showed a depiction of a bearded, hooked-nose figure dressed in an army uniform, in front of a flag bearing a Magen David and the United Nations symbol positioned in the cross-hairs of a gun-sight. The figure’s hands are covered in blood.

Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl said: “Labour Councillor Andy Slack has posted the kind of vile antisemitic slur which we would normally associate with the extreme right. We call on Labour to confirm that he will be expelled from the party immediately if this verified.”

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: "“We do not comment on individual’s membership status”, later adding: "Councillor Slack has apologised and he has been reminded of his responsibilities". However, the Councillor later told Guido he had been suspended from the party.

In a status published on Thursday afternoon, Councillor Slack said:

"I wish to apologise for an offensive post which I shared for a short time without properly reading the content, especially anyone of the Jewish Faith.

"I also apologise to my Labour Party colleagues and point out that it had no connection with any organisation which I am a member. I support Palestinians in occupied Gaza but am in no way opposed to Jewish people."