LABOUR MP Peter Kyle has defended his decision to speak at an event dubbed “the Tory Glastonbury” after calls for him to resign over the appearance.

At the one-day event which takes place on September 8, Mr Kyle will speak alongside Conservative politicians Michael Gove and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

The MP for Hove and Portslade said: “There is so much I want to say right now and that’s why I accepted it.

“I think at a time when politics has become so factional and partisan, the chance to speak about the issues I care about to find common ground has never been so important.”

The event is officially known as the Big Tent Ideas Festival and was founded last year by Conservative MP George Freeman in response to Jeremy Corbyn’s Glastonbury appearance.

At the time, the MP for Mid Norfolk said: “Why is it the left who have all the fun in politics?”

But a spokesman for Brighton and Hove Momentum Committee said: “We are concerned Peter has seen Jeremy Corbyn’s historic speech to tens of thousands of young people at Glastonbury festival last year and wishes to do the same.

“We hope he knows ‘Tory Glastonbury’ is not the same thing and the attendance is likely to be nearer 175 than 175,000.

“However, if Peter gets behind the Labour leader, we could see him on the real Pyramid stage sometime in the conceivable future.”

Despite not being the only Labour Party member to join the event, there have also been calls on Twitter for Mr Kyle to resign over his decision to attend the event.

One commenter wrote: “I don’t think it is acceptable for Peter Kyle to be speaking at a Tory event, supporting Tories is not what we’re paying Labour MPs for. Why is he not expelled?”

But Mr Kyle said: “The whole event is co-chaired by a Labour Baroness, Sally Morgan.

“I had a long chat with her with her before agreeing to appear.”

Tickets for the event at Barbraham Research Campus, Barbraham, Cambridgeshire, cost up to £30 but 13 to 15-year olds will get in for £5.

The event is hosted by a non-party political body formed to promote the benefits of free enterprise and entrepreneurialism.

The deputy editor of the Sunday Telegraph, Matt D’Ancona, Conservative mayoral candidate, Andrew Boff, and Minster of State for Housing and Planning, Kit Malthouse, are also attending.