AN MP is embroiled in a Boris Johnson-style controversy over reports that he claimed “criminals” from Liverpool were “flooding” into Bournemouth and taking over pubs.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood, who is the Conservative spokesman on licensing, denies using the word “criminal” and says he did not intend to slur the city in his remarks.

The trade press reported Mr Ellwood’s 10-minute speech to the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers in Birmingham Liverpudlian Mick Mullins, 48, who runs the Goat and Tricycle Pub near Bournemouth’s Triangle with his wife, said: “I just feel very disappointed. This guy is supposed to represent large groups of people.

“I have got no criminal record, but because I run a pub, what would people think about me?

“I would like him to withdraw his comments and make some sort of apology.”

Paul Charity, editor of the trade newspaper Morning Advertiser, told the Echo: “There’s a lot of anger in the trade about the government taxing to the hilt so people were eager to hear what Mr Ellwood had to say. In the event it was virtually nothing positive.

“Bearing in mind the Conservative track record with people from Liverpool with Boris Johnson’s comments, it seemed like the worst thing he could say.”

Mr Ellwood told the Echo the Morning Advertiser account was a “very mischievous” report.

He said he was trying to suggest the need for a national database of licensees to help local authorities get information on licensees moving into their area.

He said: “I used Liverpool and Bournemouth. I could have chosen any two places. I used the two towns as a geographical reference to illustrate the issue.”

When asked why he chose Liverpool, he said: “I have no idea why I did it. I gave a number of examples.”

He also said: “I never, ever, used the word criminals. That would be wrong.”

Mr Ellwood suggested the bad reaction to the speech came because he did not have the power to promise the audience tax cuts and because the audience was not keen on the idea of the database.

In 2004, Boris Johnson, then a Tory shadow minister, was sent to Liverpool to apologise for a magazine article which accused the city of “wallowing” in grief over the murder of Iraq hostage Ken Bigley.

Liverpool City council deputy leader Flo Clucas said of Mr Ellwood: “Along with a lot of members of Parliament, he ought to think before he opens his mouth.

“It really pains me when people who should know better slap that sort of smear on people who can’t answer back.”

Mr Ellwood’s alleged comments were reported in the pub trade press.

Hamish Champ, city editor of The Publican, wrote in his blog that Ellwood referred to ‘dodgy Liverpudlians opening bars in his constituency’.

Paul Charity wrote: “He told retailers people with criminal records in Liverpool were flooding his Bournemouth constituency and opening pubs.”

Daniel Davies, chief executive of licensee training company CPL wrote in a letter to the Morning Advertiser: “Mr Ellwood went on to say that his constituency is full of ‘Liverpool criminals’ running pubs.

“When I pointed out that an application for a personal licence would be refused if you had an unspent criminal offence he went quite red.”