A Labour candidate has dropped out over an accusation that he called a Jewish councillor “Shylock”, the evil Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice

Gideon Bull, who was announced as the party’s candidate in Clacton in Essex, denies directing the term towards Zena Brabazon during a private meeting at Haringey Council in the summer.

After quitting the race, Mr Bull admitted using the term, but insisted that he was referring to “a housing decision being called in by backbenchers”.

He told BBC Essex: “The allegation that I called a Jewish Cabinet member Shylock is entirely false. I was not referring to the councillor, who was not part of the call in.

“When she politely informed me that this saying was offensive, I immediately apologised and explained that I did not know that Shylock was Jewish.”

The complaint was lodged with the Labour Party in July, yet Mr Bull was announced as the party’s candidate in Clacton on Tuesday.

The Shylock character has been used as an antisemitic stereotype to portray Jews as avaricious and villainous.

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.