INFIGHTING among Conservatives reached new heights when a dispute broke out between two MPs after disappointing results in last week’s Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council elections.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns launched a verbal barrage about Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Backbench 1922 Committee.

At the gathering, which included Sir Christopher, Mr Burns accused his Dorset colleague of campaigning with independents in his constituency in the run up to the local council polls.

However, this claim was dismissed by the veteran politician, who told the Daily Echo it was “completely untrue”.

The new Christchurch Independents won eight of the ten seats in the borough, leaving the Conservatives with just one.

Sir Christopher said he has written to Mr Burns demanding he withdraw his remarks and apologises. He has also referred the matter to the party’s chief whip.

“Without any advanced warning he launched an unprovoked attack upon my integrity,” said Sir Christopher.

“I doubt very much that he knew that I was in the room. I was completely taken by surprise. I then caught the chairman’s eye and I immediately responded and said the allegations he had made were untrue, which they are.

The efforts by him to make me the scapegoat for the bad results in the unitary authority elections were completely misplaced.”

The Conservatives fell three seats short of a majority for BCP Council.

Sir Christopher added: “I made it quite clear I have never attacked any colleague in the time I have been involved in representative politics and I would refrain from doing so.

“The allegation centred around saying I had supported Independent candidates against Conservatives, which is completely untrue.

“I went out canvassing for the Conservatives in Christchurch in the local elections in support of candidates – that is a fact.”

The Daily Echo understands Mr Burns called on party chairman Brandon Lewis MP to come to Dorset and ‘sort out Christchurch’.

It is also understood the remarks from the former parliamentary private secretary to the foreign secretary received strong support from backbenchers, however Sir Christopher said a number of colleagues came up to him afterwards and described the comments as “outrageous”.

When contacted by the Daily Echo, Mr Burns said: “I do not comment on what happens in private meetings of the 1922.

“I am disappointed Chris has felt it is appropriate to comment on a private meeting.

“I have not received a letter from him.”

Sir Christopher has found himself embroiled in huge controversy in recent months not least over his objection to private members' bill relating to issues such as upskirting and FGM.