Council calls for MP visit after 'derogatory remark'

James Cleverly was accused of making derogatory comments about Stockton-on-Tees in Parliament

Stockton's council is calling on James Cleverly to visit after he allegedly made derogatory comment about the town in Parliament.

The council voted in favour of a motion inviting the Home Secretary to apologise for the remark - which Mr Cleverly denies making.

He claims he was misheard after calling Stockton North's member a swearword in November.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, Labour councillor Paul Rowling said residents are "furious" over the politician's "refusal to apologise for what he clearly said".

'Unparliamentary language'

Mr Cleverly was accused of calling the town a "shithole" after Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham questioned Rishi Sunak over child poverty in his constituency.

While the Home Secretary apologised for using "unparliamentary language" towards his fellow MP, he denied insulting the area.

He said he had instead called Mr Cunningham 'a shit MP'.

At Wednesday's meeting, Labour councillors said Stockton's council should condemn the comment, call on Mr Cleverly to make a full apology to residents and invite him to the town to say sorry.

However, Conservative members of the council did not support the motion, asserting there was no "slam dunk" proof the remark was made.

By 29 Labour and Independent votes to 20 Tory votes, Stockton's Labour-led council voted in favour of the motion, which was put forward by Councillor Rowling.

He said the MP's denials took those in the borough "for fools", adding: "The comment was a disgrace and outrage.

"It was wholly inaccurate, misinformed and insulting to the residents of Stockton-on-Tees, a borough with a proud history that has had and continues to have a global impact."

Stockton councillor Nigel Cooke

Fellow Labour councillor Nigel Cooke added: "The people of this borough will remember that day that these words were spoken, the person who spoke them and the government he is a member of."

However, Conservative group leader Tony Riordan said it is not proved that the comment was aimed at the town.

He said: "There is no evidential slam dunk here.

“I would wholeheartedly join in with a chorus of condemnation against anyone who badmouths our proud borough and its fantastic people who live and work here.

"However after the cacophony of noise following the episode in Parliament, no matter how loud it is, we do not have a crystal clear and indisputable recording of what or wasn’t said."

The Home Office has been contacted for a comment, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which attended the meeting.