Mayor calls MP 'liar and a coward' in Tees project row

A Conservative politician has branded a Labour MP a "liar and a coward" successful a enactment implicit a large improvement project.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen challenged Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald to repetition allegations of corruption without the extortion of parliamentary privilege.

Mr McDonald said the Teesworks woody "doesn't walk the odor test" but stopped abbreviated of repeating the claims.

Mr McDonald, the MP for neighbouring Middlesbrough, previously made superior accusations astir the Teesworks development, the UK's largest concern zone, nether the extortion of parliament.

They followed aggregate reports successful Private Eye and the Financial Times astir the tract and however contracts and onshore agreements were issued to backstage developers.

Mr Houchen, who heads the South Tees Development Corporation overseeing the project, said the MP had refused to repetition the accusations extracurricular of parliament due to the fact that helium could beryllium sued for libel.

Speaking connected BBC Radio 4's World At One, Mr Houchen said Mr McDonald was a "liar and a coward" who had "abused" his parliamentary position.

The Conservative politician said Mr McDonald "has nary evidence" determination had been immoderate criminality oregon wrong-doing astir the development.

Mr Houchen said engaging backstage firms to negociate the clearance and redevelopment of the erstwhile Redcar steelworks tract was "1,000%" successful the public's interest, adding taxpayers were "no longer liable for a monolithic tract that was going to beryllium a monolithic drain connected nationalist resource".

He said the autarkic sheet would wide immoderate accusations, adding: "I'll beryllium calling for the Labour enactment to reimburse the payer for the discarded of clip this reappraisal yet is due to the fact that its going to amusement determination is nary corruption [or] illegality."

Also appearing connected World At One, Mr McDonald declined to repetition the allegations helium made successful parliament but said his remarks had "gained attraction for these precise superior matters".

He said the improvement "doesn't walk the odor test" and determination were "so galore elements that warrant person examination".

Mr McDonald said helium believed determination had been a "failure of process" astatine Teesworks and welcomed the inquiry.