MP Ashok Kumar called for all parties to fight together (From The Northern Echo)

MP Ashok Kumar called for all parties to fight together

8:10am Tuesday 15th December 2009 in

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AN MP last night called for an end to a “war of words” which has erupted over the planned closure of the Corus steelworks.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar called for all parties to fight together in the effort to save the Redcar complex, the closure of which is likely to affect more than 4,000 jobs.

All five Labour MPs on Teesside were accused by Middlesbrough Football Club chairman Steve Gibson at the weekend of “betraying” steelworkers and their families.

Mr Gibson said the MPs should lose their jobs if the plant closed, while Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon, who has been critical of the Government’s response, said the “towel had been thrown in”.

Mr Kumar said: “There is a danger of some people trying to turn this into a war of words and perhaps not helping the real job, which is to try and keep the plant open.

“It is far better that we are all fighting together to keep the plant open rather than fighting each other.

“I want to see the plant stay open and so do the people who work there and that has got to be our objective.”

Mr Kumar said he had secured a half-hour adjournment debate in Parliament tomorrow with Business Minister Pat McFadden, at which many of the issues raised by Mr Gibson and Mr Mallon would be aired.

Meanwhile, Redcar MP Vera Baird held out an olive branch and said Mr Gibson and Mr Mallon should call her so they could exchange ideas.

Mrs Baird said Mr Gibson was “wrong” to abuse her and her colleagues, along with the Government.

She said progress was being made in getting to know why a buyer for the plant pulled out of a deal less than two weeks ago, adding that she would keep fighting, despite “sniping from the wings”.

She said of Mr Gibson and Mr Mallon: “I will keep fighting with or without them, but I would prefer to have their help, as I have that of my colleague MPs.

“In unity is strength.”

Last week, the Government announced £60m to aid job creation on Teesside, but the package has since been variously dismissed as not enough and recycled money, amid calls for the Corus plant to be bailed out with public money.

Yesterday, Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell said the cash was “not to be sneezed at” and pointed out that Corus was a private company running a private plant.

Further talks over Corus are expected today with secretary of the community union, Michael Leahy, stating he has secured a meeting with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson in London to call for further Government support.