THE Swindon Tories have struck a note of defiance in response to news that Momentum activists are to descend on the town at the weekend.

Members of the left wing group, which works to secure a Jeremy Corbyn-led government, are to hit the streets of Swindon on Sunday in a bid to “unseat the Tory council”.

The day is being organised by journalist and author Owen Jones and is intended to drum up support for Labour ahead of the local elections in May.

But leading Conservatives in Swindon remain undaunted by the influx of volunteers keen to disrupt their campaign.

In teasing spirit, David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, welcomed the group to Swindon on the grounds that their appearance will work in the Tories’ favour.

He said: “Having them in town is very helpful because their extreme left wing views will be exposed to the people of Swindon.”

Momentum’s campaign will begin at Broadgreen Community Centre at 10am and will be followed by a full day of canvassing right across the town..

The event page reads: “Tory-run Swindon Council is on a knife edge. If we campaign, we’ll win it for Labour and send shockwaves through the national Tory machine.”

But Nick Burns-Howell, the Conservative candidate for Old Town and East Wichel, didn’t think Momentum’s campaign would leave much of a mark on voters in the town.

Taking a swipe at Owen Jones, he said: “Living in Swindon I’m interested to see how residents will react to an unelected commentator, with little knowledge of our local area, trying to lecture them only a few weeks before the election.

“Local Conservative candidates have been working hard, and delivering results, in their wards all year round, not just during this election period.”

That Momentum activists have targeted Swindon for a day of action shows just how positive Labour members are feeling about taking control of the council in May.

The group’s #unseat campaign sees them touring the country in an attempt to dislodge big names in the Conservative Party such as Boris Johnson, Iain Duncan-Smith, Justine Greening and others.