David Icke. Photo: Tyler Merbler via Wikimedia Commons.

The University of Liverpool in England has distanced itself from a former instructor who shared conspiracy theories about the Rothschild family while appearing on a talk show that has in the past hosted a bevy of controversial figures.

Alex Scott-Samuel, formerly a senior lecturer in public health and policy, “is no longer employed by the University,” a spokesperson told The Jewish Chronicle on Tuesday. He left the university in late 2015 but still held an honorary position, the spokesperson added.

The chair of the Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party and a member of the Jewish Voice for Labour group — which has extended support to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as he faces accusations of tolerating and fomenting antisemitism — Scott-Samuel has in recent years repeatedly appeared on a show published on the website of David Icke, a conspiracy theorist who believes that reptilian humanoids secretly control the world.

The show’s host, Richie Allen — who has since broken away from Icke’s website — has in the past welcomed guests including ex-Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke, as well as self-described “Holocaust revisionist” Alison Chabloz.

In an April 2015 appearance, Scott-Samuel — who was identified by his association to the University of Liverpool — claimed that “the Rothschild family … are behind a lot of the neo-liberal influence in the UK and the US. I mean, you only have to Google them to look at this.”

“Ever since they funded the Napoleonic Wars and made enormous profits about just over 200 years ago, they’ve had a quiet, vested interest in the pursuit of free trade and neo-liberalism etc.,” he added. “But they’re just one example.”

The show accompanied his remarks with screenshots of several articles, including a couple titled, “Rothschild sponsored Zionism, World Banking Control, and Israel,” and “George Soros and the Rothschild Connection.”

The Rothschilds, a famous banking family with roots in Frankfurt, have long been the target of antisemitic conspiracies about global Jewish control.

Asked about his appearances, Scott-Samuel told the JC, “I don’t enquire into the ownership of media when I do interviews with them.” His personal page has also been removed from the university website.

Recently, members of the Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party that Scott-Samuel leads tabled two no-confidence motions against Labour MP Luciana Berger, a Jewish parliamentarian who has been outspoken in her opposition to antisemitism, and who has been accused of being disloyal to Corbyn. The motions were withdrawn under pressure, shortly after it was revealed that one of Berger’s key opponents said she should be “exposed for the disruptive Zionist she is.”