'BNP-style' email campaign against Labour defector; Conservatives described as 'very scary people'.

Byline: LIAM MURPHY 

WIRRAL'S Labour group last night refused to comment on an email calling for help to hand out leaflets in the ward of a defector from their party - despite one of their own volunteers comparing it to "a BNP mailing".

The email, leaked to the Daily Post, contains a furious rant against for mer Labour councillor Denis Knowles who two weeks ago quit the party and crossed the council chamber to the Tories.

Last night deputy leader of the Labour group Phil Davies was unrepentant about their stance against their for mer councillor, again demanding he step down and fight the seat as a Conservative.

Cllr Davies said: "We have made no secret of the fact that we are going to be very strong in letting the people of Seacombe know what we think of what Cllr Knowles has done." Following the defection Labour did not waste time leafleting the ward represented by Cllr Knowles, handing out a leaflet detailing the payments and expenses - some pounds 44,000 over two years - he claimed from Merseytravel but was due to lose after being replaced.

The leaflet also featured a mockup picture of Cllr Knowles with two faces - one saying he is a Labour supporter and the other saying he is Conservative.

But the email calling for party members to deliver the leaflet was criticised by one of its recipients.

The email describes local

Conservatives Ian Lewis, Leah Fraser and Chris Blakeley, along with Tory leader Jeff Green as "very scary people" and highlights their names with skull and crossbones motif. It is signed "ANON" and underneath says: "Leader's Office, Wirral Council" and gives local Labour HQ contact details.

But one of the recipients responded saying: "Come on people, this is like a BNP mailing - lots of big letters, dire war nings." Cllr Ian Lewis, Conservative general election agent in Wallasey, said: "For Labour to stand accused by one of their own activists of resorting to BNP tactics shows how detached the Labour Party of today has become from its traditional values.

"This is yet further evidence as to why Cllr Denis Knowles, and thousands of Labour voters across Wirral, are withdrawing their support. I suppose I should be flattered to be listed as one of the Labour Party's 'scary people' but, sadly, it's not just a few of the Conservatives they are scared of." It is understood that the email was not intended to go outside the Labour group..