Teesside’s Labour MPs and Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen have each accused the other of playing political games over efforts to secure an electric arc furnace in the area. Last week, Lord Houchen wrote to the area’s six Labour representatives over a campaign to secure a furnace, following national reports that the proposals had been shelved, saying that : “Governments of both colours have failed the steel industry, and I am big enough to say that”. He urged the MPs to join him in fighting for the future of Teesside’s steel industry by joining him in a letter to the government on the issue.
Response from Labour MPs
Instead the MPs – Anna Turley for Redcar, Chris McDonald for Stockton, Jonathan Brash for Hartlepool, Luke Myer for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Lola McEvoy for Darlington and Andy McDonald for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East – issued their own statement in which they say they will campaign for steelmaking on Teesside but accusing Lord Houchen of “play(ing) political games”.
Lord Houchen hit back at the statement and said they were “making excuses” for not putting enough pressure on the government.
The row comes as government is under pressure to provide financial support for British Steel as it bids to switch to greener steel production on Teesside and at Scunthorpe.
The MPs’ statement said:
“Working collaboratively with stakeholders at both national and regional levels, as well as with the new government, local MPs are driving forward projects that aim to transform our area for the better. These initiatives are about ensuring tangible benefits for everyone – from creating better jobs and equipping people with the skills for the future to addressing the deep-rooted challenges in our society. Issues like rising child poverty and widening health inequalities are not just moral imperatives – they are barriers that threaten to derail the quest for real and lasting change. These challenges have been left to fester for fourteen years and now is the time to act.
“There is a shared and unwavering desire to back steelmaking on Teesside and to safeguard the jobs and livelihoods that depend on it. Unlike the inaction of the previous Government, which stood by as the light of the blast furnace was extinguished, Labour MPs have consistently fought for the future of steel in our region. From working in the industry to chairing Steel APPGs and hosting Parliamentary Steel Summits, we’ve been at the forefront of these efforts. That work continues, with a determined push to secure the long-term prosperity of steelmaking on Teesside and the skilled jobs it supports. Steel is in our DNA, and we’ll keep fighting for its future – but we won’t allow something so important to become a political football.
“This is no time for the bluff and bluster of political grandstanding, empty promises, or headline-grabbing stunts. People in our region need real leadership and real action. While the Conservative Mayor continues to play political games, the reality is stark: our area has already lost transformative, game-changing projects – projects vital to the long-term prosperity and resilience of Teesside, Hartlepool, and Darlington. Our communities deserve better.”
The Tees Valley Mayor said: “I’ll work with anyone to make sure Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool get the best deal, and will never put politics before the right decision,” adding that he works positively with Sir Keir Starmer’s team weekly.
He added: “They’ve not had the decency to reply to my letters and emails, but instead they published a statement on social media which makes excuses as to why they won’t call on the Government to deliver this investment and protect local jobs”.
In his letter to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Lord Houchen “urge(s) the Government to ensure that any deal done with British Steel commits to the building of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) in Teesside, as phase one of their transition”.
A member of the mayor’s team confirmed that the only MP in the Tees Valley who has agreed to be a signatory to the letter to government was Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers. The mayor said that British Steel jobs are “the lifeblood of communities across Teesside” while the ability to produce steel was vital for national security.
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