A NORTH-EAST Labour MP has dismissed as “complete rubbish” suggestions an event featuring Tony Blair has been organised in aid of a planned break-away party.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson said speculation raised on left-wing website The Skwawkbox that the event is to raise funds to set up a new so-called “centrist” party is a conspiracy theory by “a clique of Corbyn supporters objecting”.

Last night the Jeremy Corbyn critic told The Northern Echo the event was for a project to raise funds for campaigns and local charities.

“The idea is Tony Blair said he would come up and do a fundraiser for me,” he said. “I’m in the process of setting up a trust fund, a proportion of which will go towards local charities and the other money will go to campaigning on issues I feel are important. The big one is Brexit and the other is around a private landlords bill I’m wanting to promote as well as other issues affecting local people.”

The Skwawkbox, known for its defence of Labour leader Mr Corbyn, brought attention to what it called the “bizarre fundraising event” in an article published earlier this month.

It stated the event invitation had fuelled speculation “locally and at Labour HQ” by carrying no mention of the Labour Party and what funds were being raised for.

Questions have been asked of Mr Wilson by the site.

Paul Daly, chairman of the Sedgefield Constituency Labour Party (CLP), confirmed it had not been consulted about the event and was made aware of it when invitations were sent to members. He said the CLP was also seeking clarification about the fundraiser.

But Mr Wilson said the event had been organised above board and the tickets were “selling like hotcakes”.

Mr Wilson added: “I did email everybody and I don’t need permission to organise something like this.

“I don’t need to justify myself and justify why I have invited my predecessor and former Prime Minister of ten years who represented the constituency for 24 years.”

Addressing the suggestion the event was connected to a break-away party, he said: “That is complete rubbish and it will take more than a three course meal and a glass of wine to do that. I have no plans to do that whatsoever.”

Labour North was unable to comment.