MAYORAL aspirant Michael Bloyce has refused to back away from his claims that he was offered a financial incentive to drop out of the race for the region's top job despite defamation action by prominent LNP member Mal Brough.

Mr Brough's lawyers yesterday wrote to Mr Bloyce demanding he apologise for his claims and pay damages within 28 days or face court action for defamation.

Mr Bloyce claimed earlier this week that a former high-profile politician had told him that funds set aside for Mark Jamieson's campaign would be redirected towards him if he ran for a division rather than the mayor's position.

At a media conference he called yesterday to announce his defamation action, Mr Brough denied ever offering Mr Bloyce a bribe and said he had been shocked and disturbed by the allegations.

"His claims are baseless and without any element of truth whatsoever," Mr Brough said.

However Mr Bloyce said he would await the outcome of a Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation into his claims.

"I have nothing to worry about. I've simply told the truth," he said.

Mr Brough told reporters at yesterday's media conference that he had been to three meetings which had been instigated by Mr Bloyce during which they discussed his chances of winning and campaign suggestions.

Mr Brough said he told Mr Bloyce that a consortium behind another candidate would probably offer him some financial support if he did run for a division but he denied offering a bribe.

Mr Brough said there had been plenty of time since the meetings for Mr Bloyce to raise any concerns about the conversation with him and he queried why he had waited until days before the local government elections to go public about notifying the CMC.