THURROCK Council leader Terry Hipsey has sent a "back me or sack me" message to Conservative councillors and warned them they risk the party's wrath if they bend to "populist, knee jerk" policies.

His words included a stark warning that he would not tolerate any allegiance with the British National Party and that his colleagues should show faith in the work of party leader David Cameron.

Addressing members of the council's ruling Cabinet on Wednesday evening, councillor Hipsey said that if Conservative members did not support the party's politics they should show the courage of their convictions and either challenge his leadership or change their political hue.

He also called on the Thurrock Conservative party to ensure that it fielded candidates in all wards for next May's local elections, warning of the danger of leaving the door open to extremist parties.

His emotive speech said: "I'd like to make a statement concerning the abiding principles of the ruling group, reminding some of my members and the public about the Conservative policies that we are here to promote and support.

"It's not often that I feel the need to use strong political rhetoric in the council chamber which is the place for good, honest debate about local issues, but I feel the time is right to reiterate some of the things that my party stands for - and some of the things it does not.

"I am delighted to be able to say that we are now beginning to see the fruits of the party's decision to elect David Cameron as its leader.

"We are leading the way on the national policy-setting agenda, with Labour being forced to eat humble pie as we put forward a range of innovative, thoughtful proposals that will take this country forward.

"I would like to commend David and his team for not seeking the easy path of following populist, knee-jerk politics. There is no doubt there are big issues in the country at the moment, among them immigration, the need to get people back to work and the incredibly serious quest of helping forge stability and peace in the war-torn regions of the world.

"I am delighted to see that the Conservative party is offering positive meaningful solutions.

"There has undoubtedly been a groundswell of public support for some of the more radical parties like the BNP and UKIP but there is no doubt in my mind that these organisations, with their extremist opinions, will polarise this country and will lead to trouble and strife, rather than unity and purpose.

"I am aware that even within the ranks of our own party there has been a clamour among some to jump aboard the bandwagon and even, in some places, the call to unite with organisations such as the BNP.

"Let me make it quite clear. There is no place within the modern Conservative party for extreme right wing measures, nor the need to join hands with those who support them.

"We should offer voters a clear choice by fielding strong candidates in all our elections, by pressing home our message and by stressing the values of a modern, supportive society that embraces all creeds with a strong set of principles of what is wrong and right and with the common aim of securing the future of this country as a leader in the world.

"It is my plan to ensure that Thurrock Conservatives play a part in this and I am sure that all our elected members will support this aim.

"If they do not then I hope they either have the courage of their conviction to stand against my leadership with a truthful manifesto of their intentions or the decency and responsibility to the electorate to switch their political allegiance to the party they think best represents their personal views."