Report will clear Teesworks of wrongdoing, says MP

Sir Simon said the report "will clear Teesworks and Ben Houchen of any impropriety"

An inquiry into claims of cronyism and corruption surrounding finances at the Teesworks site will be out “within days”, according to a former minister.

The MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Sir Simon Clarke, said he is “100% certain” that the substantive allegation would prove to be false.

The government launched an investigation into claims of wrongdoing in June last year, with the report originally due at the end of the summer.

The claims have always been strongly denied by the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

Teesworks is a 4,500-acre former steelworks site being converted for green industry

Sir Simon told BBC One’s Politics North: “I think [the report] is coming very soon. That really does mean now a matter of days rather than weeks.

"I am 100% confident that that the substantive allegation of corruption will be proved to be false.

"Actually I’m willing to say more broadly than that, the report will clear Teesworks and Ben Houchen of any impropriety."

'More words'

Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, said: “It's just more words. Where is the report? Why isn’t it here? And why, Simon, did you choose not to have a National Audit Office report?

"You say it's going to be soon, you've been saying that for months."

An investigation was launched in June after allegations of cronyism and corruption surrounding finances at the Teesworks site in Redcar.

The probe was ordered by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to investigate allegations surrounding the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks joint venture.

It followed reports publicly owned land at the former steel works site, potentially worth millions of pounds, was handed to private investors for £100.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who requested the inquiry, has denied allegations of corruption and said he "looked forward" to its outcome.

Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he is looking forward to the outcome of the report

Meanwhile, Labour have previously called on the National Audit Office (NAO) to be part of the investigation.

But Mr Gove said it was not in the NAO's remit to investigate the site, however, he said he would "welcome" the body to update "its review of the government's funding arrangements".

The NAO said it would be "willing and able to carry out" an investigation if instructed to do so, but added that the government had made "alternative arrangements" by setting up the independent panel instead.

The report was first expected last summer, and has faced several delays.

Earlier this month, MP for Middlesbrough Andy McDonald called for the immediate publication of the report, after the government revealed it had received a draft copy in November, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In response to Mr McDonald's question, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government, Simon Hoare, said the department was a “key consultee in the panel’s fact-checking process” and officials received the draft to offer “solely factual comment”.

He also said drafts had not been shared with ministers and the final report has not yet been received by the department.

'Surprising'

Mr McDonald described Mr Clarke's comments on an imminent publication date as "interesting", adding: "Simon Clarke is suggesting he has the inside track on the imminent release of the withheld Independent Assurance Review into Teesworks.

"Surprising that he should be told, given he’s hardly flavour of the month with his former Cabinet colleagues.

"Perhaps we can expect a statement from a Minister in Parliament in the coming week?"

The MP also accused Ben Houchen of going "into denial and resistance" when the matters around Teesworks surfaced.

Politics North is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00 GMT and on iPlayer.