A Labour candidate who has put his name forward to challenge Grant Shapps for the Welwyn Hatfield MP seat has defended historic tweets in which he slammed the party.

Andrew Lewin is in the running alongside Stuart Brady and Larry Crofton, but he has been forced to defend himself after old tweets criticising New Labour re-emerged

The posts date back to 2009 and 2010 when he was Liberal Democrat candidate.

"It is the so called heartlands that have been hit hardest by the recession. A terrible reflection of the New Lab project," a tweet from January 18, 2010, read.

In another, on June 7, 2009, Mr Lewin wrote: "Labour finish 6th in Cornwall! A damning indictment of New Labour's record. England's poorest region has been let down repeatedly since '97."

The posts were uncovered by Twitter account @Tomorrow'sMPs, which said: "Oh dear, Andrew Lewin, who is going for Labour selection in Welwyn Hatfield - and some think is the leader of the opposition contender (backed by Starmer's office) - still has his anti-Labour tweets up from his days 12-13 years ago when he was a nearby Lib Dem candidate."

READ MORE: The Welwyn Hatfield Labour candidate who could challenge Grant Shapps

The account did give Mr Lewin credit for not deleting the tweets after they were uncovered, adding: "But in a way it also reflects well on Lewin that he didn't remove the tweets, as most contenders would have done. At least he hasn't tried to cover up his past."

Mr Lewin was quick to defend himself, tweeting that he has "always stood up for what he believed in" and is keen to play his part in delivering a "fairer future" as a Labour candidate.

"I've never shied away from my past and have always stood up for what I believe in," he wrote. 

"Joining Labour 13 years ago was the best decision I ever made. Through three GEs, countless local campaigns and the friends I have made along the way in Welwyn Hatfield and beyond.

"As I said when I joined the Labour Party all that time ago, I'm convinced Labour can be a natural home for anyone who wants to see Britain invest in a fairer future.

"I'd like to play my part in delivering that future as the Labour MP for my home seat."