Mayor Calls for James Cleverly's Apology Over Derogatory Comment on Stockton

2023-11-23 16:30:18

Tees Valley Mayor Calls for Apology from James Cleverly Over Disparaging Town Remarks

A Tory mayor has urged Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to issue an apology after allegations surfaced that Cleverly referred to Stockton North as a “shithole” during a Parliamentary session.

The Home Secretary has firmly denied making such a remark about the town during the Prime Minister's questions.

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This accusation followed a question from Alex Cunningham, the Labour MP for Stockton North, addressing Rishi Sunak on the issue of why 34% of children in his area are living in poverty.

Contradictory to this claim, Cleverly has maintained that his comment was directed at Cunningham, labeling him "a shit MP" instead.

In an unexpected move, Ben Houchen, the Conservative mayor for Tees Valley, has essentially contradicted his colleague's stance by insisting on an apology.

In a post shared on social media, Houchen stated, "I'm not accepting excuses and my priority is our community over party politics, and it's evident to me that the Home Secretary should apologize for tarnishing Stockton's reputation.

He highlighted the continued progress the area has made owing to significant investments and the creation of thousands of jobs, particularly in advanced industries like a revolutionized steelmaking sector, and criticized the negative portrayal.

Expressing pride in the region, he added, "We are a remarkable place with a passionate and proud community. Such immature and unprofessional language by politicians should cease as it doesn't contribute to our developmental plans."

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When questioned about the comment, a spokesperson for Cleverly stated, "He didn’t say that. He wouldn’t say that. It's regretful that someone would level such an accusation against him."

They also clarified, "As was indicated earlier, he would never talk down on Stockton. Having actively campaigned there, he views it as a great place."

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