Other tweets included: "We doing hyberbole? If so, it's a choice between IRA supporting friend of Hamas career politician Corbyn vs Smith."

He also said: "Smith learnt politics in the heat of the fight in South Wales. Corbyn sipped tea in trendy north London with career politician and Viscount."

Later, Mr Snell added: "For clarity, my previous comments were to demonstrate the absurdity of the hyperbole I've read in the last two hours."

A spokeswoman for Mr Corbyn said: "We won't comment on this."

Mr Snell will attempt to hold the Stoke-on-Trent Central seat for Labour next month.