23 November 2023 , 14:18
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Home Secretary James Cleverly has denied describing Stockton as a "sh**hole" - but apologised for calling a Labour MP "sh**".
It came after Labour's Alex Cunningham alleged Mr Cleverly had described his north-east constituency as a "sh**hole" in the Commons on Wednesday. At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cunningham had asked Rishi Sunak why so many children in his constituency are growing up in poverty.
MPs in the chamber claimed Mr Cleverly had shouted from the frontbench that it was because it is a “sh**hole”. But amid a growing row, the Home Secretary’s aides insisted that he had actually been insulting Mr Cunningham rather than his constituency.
The Home Secretary's spokesman told the Mirror on Thursday: “James made a comment. He called Alex Cunningham a sh** MP. He apologises for unparliamentary language. “As was made clear yesterday, he would never criticise Stockton. He’s campaigned in Stockton and is clear that it is a great place.”
Tory Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen had just minutes earlier hit out at the "childish and unprofessional" language and said Mr Cleverly had dragged the Stockton's "name through the mud".
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In a statement Mr Houchen said: "I'm not interested in excuses and I will always put our area above party politics, and it is clear to me that the Home Secretary should apologise for dragging Stockton's name through the mud."
He added: "This type of language only furthers the outdated and inaccurate stereotypes we've battled for years.
"We're a wonderful place and a passionate and proud community, and people across the world are looking at the exciting future that is emerging before us - but childish and unprofessional language used by Westminster politicians, who should know better, does nothing to help our plans for progress".
Downing Street said the PM retains full confidence in the Home Secretary - despite the row. A No10 spokeswoman also insisted Mr Sunak did not think Stockton is a sh**hole, saying: “His own characterisation would be as far removed as you can imagine from some of the reports of comments that may or may not have been said.”
Labour MP Mr Cunningham had said on Wednesday he was "assured" the comment about his constituency had been made by the Tory Cabinet Minister. He said the audio of the comment which later circulated on social media was "clear and has been checked and checked and checked again".
Shadow Commons leader Lucy Powell said: "Besmirching another honourable member's constituency goes against all the courtesies of this place and it is utterly disrespectful to their constituents."
The row comes a week after Mr Cleverly insisted he did not “remember” describing the Tory Rwanda deportation plan as “batsh**”. The claim about the remark was made by Labour's Yvette Cooper in the Commons after the Supreme Court torpedoed the Government's flagship immigration plan.