Watford MP Richard Harrington has defended his parliamentary campaign after the Liberal Democrats accused him of having to “beg for cash” and more volunteers.

During a panel discussion at the Conservative Party Conference last month, Mr Harrington was discussing the level of support party candidates have in urban seats around the country.

He said it was a “scandal” that during the 2005 election campaign the Tories’ Watford candidate Ali Miraj ‘only had three or four people to help’.

Speaking about urban seats he said: “We have nothing. It’s a scandal that seats we held years ago have ended up with no voluntary organisation and no professional organisation to replace it.”

Mr Harrington suggested a long-term strategy was needed to pay party-liners to live in constituencies that are not Conservative strongholds to build up a base over a 10-year period.

But his comments were condemned by Watford Liberal Democrats, who accused the incumbent member of parliament of the town for “begging for cash” for his current campaign.

Councillor Steve Johnson, who defected from the Tories, said: “The Liberal Democrats don’t need to beg for cash or call for volunteers to be shipped in.

“Instead we are grateful to the hundreds of people campaigning hard to get Dorothy Thornhill elected as Watford’s next MP.”

However, Mr Harrington has since defended his support network, saying: “We have a solid network of several hundred volunteers across the constituency whose support is absolutely vital.

“We have volunteer action days every week, where we get the message out about what I have achieved; securing funding for the Croxley Rail Link, four new units at Watford General and investment for Watford which has boosted employment.

“In terms of spending, we are under exactly the same limits and rules as other parties, the cap which is in place for election spending is the same across the board – you cannot exceed that limit. Our campaign is funded by voluntary donations.

“The election isn't until next May. At the moment I’m concentrating on my campaign for vital investment at Watford Junction and meeting with the Job Centre and local businesses to discuss how we can help even more people find work.”