LEFT-WING journalist Owen Jones and pro-Corbyn group Momentum are leading a campaign to oust controversial Shipley MP Philip Davies at the next election.

But in a war of words, the Tory MP has hit back by branding Mr Jones a “metropolitan, left-wing luvvie” and challenging him to a battle at the ballot box.

The Guardian columnist is teaming up with activists from Momentum to host an event in the town called ‘Unseat Philip Davies’, beginning a campaign to get him replaced by a Labour MP.

On September 10 at Shipley and District Social Club, they will train people up to canvass on doorsteps even before the next General Election is announced.

Mr Davies is on a list of eight prominent Tory MPs, along with Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan-Smith, that Mr Jones and Momentum are running targeted campaigns against, hoping to create so-called ‘Portillo moments’ when the country next goes to the polls.

But Mr Davies, who saw off a challenge from Women’s Equality Party leader Sophie Walker earlier this year, said Mr Jones would be in for a “rude awakening” in Shipley.

He challenged the columnist to stand against him in the next General Election but said he suspected he was “all mouth and all talk and hasn’t got the guts to stand”.

He said: “The last time some metropolitan left-wing luvvie decided to tell people in Shipley what they should and shouldn’t be doing, they were called the Women’s Equality Party and they lost their deposit at the election. I’m not sure people in the Shipley constituency want Owen Jones coming up from London to a place he’s probably never been to before, to tell people what they should and shouldn’t be doing and what they should and shouldn’t be thinking.”

Sheffield-born Jones responded by saying: “I’m delighted to be heading back to my native Yorkshire to support the local grassroots campaign to replace Philip Davies.”

He said it was Mr Davies who was the extremist, criticising his stance on the bedroom tax, public sector cuts, LGBT rights and women’s rights. He said: “There is nothing extremist about supporting a living wage for all, or investing in our economy rather than undermining our country’s future with devastating cuts, or asking the rich to pay their fair share of tax, or bringing utilities like rail back under the control of the people of this country.

“Philip Davies’ statement reveals he is rattled and scared because we have him on the run. And no wonder: Labour halved his majority last time.

“Next time - if we campaign and inspire Shipley with a genuine alternative - Labour will take his seat.

“I will be proud to come back to campaign to make sure Shipley has a local MP who will stand up for the community - not for bigots and for the rich.”