A former Tory branch chairman has attacked a decision not to allow a Liberal Democrat MP to open an art exhibition in aid of stroke victims on Conservative club premises.

Ed Cruickshank-Robb, a former chairman of Hove Tories who defected to Labour two years ago, has spoken of his anger at the move.

The Conservatives have been labelled "bigoted" after they withdrew an invitation from a group of artists to launch the event at the Constitutional Club in Lewes.

The Tory-affiliated club held a stormy meeting after learning their arch-rival, Lewes LibDem MP Norman Baker, was to be made guest of honour at their own club.

Although Mr Baker had already accepted, members said the invitation was inappropriate and demanded it was withdrawn.

The exhibition, which opens on September 17, will give 20 per cent of profits from sales to the Stroke Care Trust, a charity supporting stroke victims through-out Sussex.

It was then suggested the trust's chairman, Mr Cruickshank-Robb, open the event, but he declined.

Branding the Tory decision a "spectacular own goal", Mr Cruickshank-Robb said: "While exhibiting the antediluvian attitudes and bigotry of the retired colonel and blue rinse mob, it has given Mr Baker more publicity than the mere function of opening a small exhibition in a county town.

"The exhibition is now in serious jeopardy if the club exercises its rule of not admitting non-Tories.

"More importantly, however, the real losers are those unfortunate enough to suffer from the debilitating effects of a stroke."

Mr Baker said: "I think it is very sad and petty. It is for a good cause and that is the only relevant factor as far as I am concerned.

"But they are saying it is more important to keep a LibDem person out then help stroke victims."

Tory agent Jeanette Allen said it would be inappropriate to invite a LibDem MP into a Tory club whose president, prospective parliamentary candidate for Lewes, Simon Sinnat, was his political rival.

Mrs Allen said: "We will support the Stroke Care Trust and help them with publicity because it is very important to raise money to help research and treatment into strokes."

Alec Bradley, chairman of the constitutional club, said in a letter: "The Liberal Democrats assuredly knew what an embarrassment such an invitation would cause the Conservative Party."

He was sure the "self-publicising" Liberal Democrats would try to gain political capital from the situation.