LABOUR'S mayoral candidate has spoken out after the Labour MP for Hartlepool resigned amid a sexual harassment investigation.

Mike Hill MP for Hartlepool resigned last week. He is due to face an employment tribunal later this year over claims of sexual harassment. His resignation has prompted a by-election in Hartlepool in May.

Jessie Joe Jacobs, Labour candidate for Tees Valley Mayor, said "The reality is I campaigned for every Labour candidate in this region at the 2019 election and attended a number of campaign events. This included Mike Hill, who at the time was a Labour MP and had been endorsed by the party.

"I campaigned for all our candidates in the faith that to stand as a Labour MP, all the checks and balances are done in terms of those individuals.

"As there is a current investigation into Mike Hill’s case, I can't comment further on it.”

Last week, Labour announced that Paul Williams would stand for Labour in the Hartlepool by-election.

READ MORE: Labour by-election candidate apologises after ‘Tory MILF’ tweet emerges

Dr Williams apologised for his past “inappropriate” tweets, including one about “a favourite Tory MILF”, after the decade-old messages came to light.

He said he “wouldn’t dream of making comments like this now” after a tweet emerged saying: “Do you have a favourite Tory MILF? Mind-blowing dinner table conversation".