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Teesworks: Mayor Ben Houchen brands MP 'liar and a coward' Teesworks: Mayor Ben Houchen brands MP 'liar and a coward'
(about 1 hour later)
The former Redcar steelworks site is to be redeveloped for other industrial uses The former Redcar steelworks site is Europe's largest brownfield development site
A Conservative mayor has branded a Labour MP a "liar and a coward" in a row over a major development project.A Conservative mayor has branded a Labour MP a "liar and a coward" in a row over a major development project.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen challenged Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald to repeat allegations of corruption without the protection of parliamentary privilege.Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen challenged Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald to repeat allegations of corruption without the protection of parliamentary privilege.
Mr McDonald said the Teesworks deal "doesn't pass the smell test" but stopped short of repeating the claims.Mr McDonald said the Teesworks deal "doesn't pass the smell test" but stopped short of repeating the claims.
An independent panel will probe claims of mismanagement at the site in Redcar.An independent panel will probe claims of mismanagement at the site in Redcar.
Mr McDonald, the MP for neighbouring Middlesbrough, previously made serious accusations about the Teesworks development, the UK's largest industrial zone, under the protection of parliament. In April, Mr McDonald spoke in the Commons about "shocking, industrial-scale corruption" around the ownership and funding of the Teesworks development, the UK's largest industrial zone.
They followed multiple reports in Private Eye and the Financial Times about the site and how contracts and land agreements were issued to private developers. As he had made the statement in Parliament, the MP was protected from legal action for his remarks under parliamentary privilege.
Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said there had been no wrong-doing at Teesworks Mr McDonald had told the House the vast site was acquired by the public body South Tees Developments Limited for £12m in 2019 and had received hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer investment but that "private developers exercised their option to purchase for a mere £1 an acre plus inflation, paying £96.79 in December."
Mr Houchen, who heads the South Tees Development Corporation overseeing the project, said the MP had refused to repeat the accusations outside of parliament because he could be sued for libel. Mr McDonald's comments followed multiple reports in Private Eye and the Financial Times about the site and how contracts and land agreements were issued.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, Mr Houchen said Mr McDonald was a "liar and a coward" who had "abused" his parliamentary position. Will mayor and Teesworks be damaged by latest storm?
Gove orders probe into Teesworks corruption claims
Mayor supports probe into Teesworks allegations
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, Mr Houchen, who heads the South Tees Development Corporation overseeing the project, said the MP had refused to repeat the accusations outside of parliament because he could be sued for libel.
He said Mr McDonald was a "liar and a coward" who had "abused" his parliamentary position.
The Conservative mayor said Mr McDonald "has no evidence" there had been any criminality or wrong-doing around the development.The Conservative mayor said Mr McDonald "has no evidence" there had been any criminality or wrong-doing around the development.
Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said there had been no wrong-doing at Teesworks
Mr Houchen said engaging private firms to manage the clearance and redevelopment of the former Redcar steelworks site was "1,000%" in the public's interest, adding taxpayers were "no longer liable for a massive site that was going to be a massive drain on public resource".Mr Houchen said engaging private firms to manage the clearance and redevelopment of the former Redcar steelworks site was "1,000%" in the public's interest, adding taxpayers were "no longer liable for a massive site that was going to be a massive drain on public resource".
He said the independent panel would clear any accusations, adding: "I'll be calling for the Labour party to reimburse the taxpayer for the waste of time this review ultimately is because its going to show there is no corruption [or] illegality." He said the independent panel - announced by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove last week - would prove the accusations were baseless.
"I'll be calling for the Labour party to reimburse the taxpayer for the waste of time this review ultimately is, because it's going to show there is no corruption [or] illegality," he added.
Middlesbrough's Labour MP Andy McDonald said the scheme needed investigatingMiddlesbrough's Labour MP Andy McDonald said the scheme needed investigating
Also appearing on World At One, Mr McDonald declined to repeat the allegations he made in parliament but said his remarks had "gained attention for these very serious matters". In response, Mr McDonald declined to repeat the allegations he had made in Parliament on Radio 4 but said his remarks had "gained attention for these very serious matters".
He said the development "doesn't pass the smell test" and there were "so many elements that warrant closer examination".He said the development "doesn't pass the smell test" and there were "so many elements that warrant closer examination".
Mr McDonald said he believed there had been a "failure of process" at Teesworks and welcomed the inquiry.Mr McDonald said he believed there had been a "failure of process" at Teesworks and welcomed the inquiry.
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Mayor of the Tees ValleyMayor of the Tees Valley
Andy McDonaldAndy McDonald
Labour PartyLabour Party
RedcarRedcar