OUTRAGED Labour members denounced allegations by deputy leader Tom Watson yesterday that the party had been infiltrated by so-called “Trotskyite entryists” who were “twisting the arms” of new young members to make them support Jeremy Corbyn.

And officers of Angela Eagle’s Wallasey Constituency Labour Party (CLP) have mocked claims from a “close friend” of the MP that the constituency has been targeted by “entryists” — including two respected trade unionists in north-west England.

Mr Watson made the wild allegations in an interview for the Guardian, while Ms Eagle’s “friend” spoke to the Liverpool Echo, which supported the MP when she challenged for Labour leadership.

The allegations were denounced by officials in her own Constituency Labour Party (CLP).

CLP member and local Councillor Trina Johnson told the Morning Star yesterday: “This (entryism) is not happening in Wallasey CLP. Absolutely not.

“Many new young members are joining because of Jeremy Corbyn.”

And she said of Mr Watson’s claims: “It is absolutely untrue that there are ‘Trotskyists’ and ‘militants twisting the arms of young people’.”

Ms Johnson said the constituency party had planned a motion of no confidence in Ms Eagle, but the CLP was suspended before it could happen.

The two veteran trade unionists accused of “entryism” are Alec McFadden and Paul Davies.

Mr McFadden holds several union posts, including president of Merseyside TUC.

He works as manager of the biggest TUC unemployed workers’ centre in Britain — Salford — and told the Star: “I’ve never been a Trotskyite in my life.”

Retired Mr Davies, vice-chair of Ms Eagle’s CLP, said the allegations “are insulting the intelligence of the public and ordinary Labour Party members.”

Constituency chair Kathy Runswick said: “I do not think Paul and Alec are entryists.

“They are people who want an alternative future to the one promoted by the Tories and by Angela Eagle and her friends, and believe that Jeremy Corbyn’s policies provide it. The allegations are inaccurate.”

The Jeremy for Leader campaign said: “This is a disappointing remark from Tom Watson, who seems to be sadly using Owen Smith’s ‘Project Fear’ approach to this election.

“Rather than patronising members and peddling baseless conspiracy theories about Trotskyite entryists he should be working with Jeremy to unite our party so that we can get back to campaigning to dislodge this Tory government and help elect a Labour government in its place.”

The allegations follow three major blows this week to the campaign to oust Mr Corbyn.

Courts rejected an attempt to remove Mr Corbyn from the ballot paper, overturned the Labour NEC’s decision to stop 127,000 members voting and Corbyn supporters won all six seats being contested on the NEC.