CONSERVATIVE party supporters in Bournemouth and Christchurch have dismissed comments tarring grassroots activists as “swivel-eyed loons”.

The Tory party has rallied round Conservative co-chairman Lord Feldman, accused of making the reported comments about local Conservative associations.

The row over the disputed remarks came as the Tory high command faced attacks from within the party over the Government's plans to legalise gay marriages.

Lord Feldman, who was not named in newspaper reports, was forced to strenuously deny making the comments after internet speculation linked him to the alleged remarks.

Christchurch and East Dorset Conservative Association chairman, Alan Griffiths said: “I don’t believe the person accused of making these comments said it.

“I don’t know any swivel-eyed loons in the Conservative Party. I do think the gay marriage idea has created havoc in the party but I don’t think the party leadership are out of touch.

“They know they have pushed this a little further than people like and it would have been better to have had more discussion first.

“But it doesn’t make me want to leave the Conservative Party or make my eyes swivel.”

John Major, chairman, Bournemouth West Conservative Association said: “Throughout life, there will always be people politically that we have disagreed with but I would never offend them by giving them names.

“In mid-term I would say there are always difficulties like ‘Why aren’t they doing more of this?’ and ‘They must do more of that’. I’ve been around politics for many years.

“I don’t feel the current differences between the voluntary party and the party leadership are any different to what we normally hear.

“Perhaps there’s an extra element here because we’re in a coalition. I’ve spent a lot of time explaining to our members it’s not a Conservative government, it’s a coalition that happens to be led by Conservatives.”

But South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: “If it was said, it’s a very silly thing to do, to make comments about our supporters who are a key part of any MP’s life and an MP’s success.

“The voluntary party does feel unloved, that’s absolutely certain.”

New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said of the alleged remarks: “I’m assured by someone who was there that it was not said. That may well result in consequences for those who said it was said.

“People will come and bend your ear and inevitably some of them are swivel-eyed but none of them are members of my Conservative association.  We had a meeting last week and everybody was perfectly sane. They have strong views and they’re entitled to have strong views.

“These are people who go out delivering leaflets and work hard. They have every right to have strong views and feel entitled to them. I don’t regard them as being swivel-eyed.”