TORY Party leader David Cameron has been sensationally snubbed by Seevic College after he was refused permission to speak there.

The Conservative Party approached the college, in Runnymede Chase, Thundersley, to find out if Mr Cameron could use its hall for an election campaign event.

However, the college made it clear it did not want to be drawn into party politics.

Murray Higgs, head of facilities, said: “Seevic has welcomed, and will continue to welcome visitors and Members of Parliament from a variety of political persuasions.

“However, it is not appropriate for us to do that just before a general election.”

Castle Point’s Ind-ependent MP Bob Spink has backed the college’s stance and even criticised the Tory leader in Parliament for not informing him of his plans.

Addressing deputy speaker Sylvia Heal in the House of Commons, he said: “Mr Cameron is seeking to visit my constituency and he has not informed me. Might a word from you help him to act more appropriately?”

Now Dr Spink has gone a step further and laid down the gauntlet for Mr Cameron.

He said: “I have written to David to challenge him to come to Castle Point and to debate with me face-to-face.

“If he refuses, people will know he has no answers to questions like why local Tories voted to build thousands of houses on our green belt.”

Vera Partridge, chairman of the Castle Point Conservative Association, said it was a matter of routine to look into potential venues for campaign events.

She said the party was now considering other locations in the borough, including the Paddocks, Canvey.

She added: “Conservative central office asked us to look into potential venues where the leader could speak. It’s standard practice for lots of constituencies.

“It’s a lot of fuss over nothing.”