A WAR of words broken out between the region’s MPs over the fight to save steelmaking on Teesside.

During an emergency debate in the Commons on the steel crisis, Redcar MP Anna Turley expressed dismay that ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Minister, James Wharton, the Conservative MP for Stockton South, had chosen not to attend.

“There's already a Northern Powerhouse, it is called Teesside, I'm disappointed the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse (James Wharton) is not here,” said Ms Turley, who led calls for the Government to help protect 2,000 jobs at SSI Redcar which is suffering a cash crisis.

Mr Wharton replied via Twitter: “On my way up to Teesside actually doing things rather than showboating.”

When his Tweet was quoted in the debate it drew widespread anger from MPs involved in the cross party discussions, which included Anna Soubry steel minister. "I'm sick and angry at the Northern Powerhouse Minister's comments today about showboating on the subject,” said Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, who branded the Minister “pathetic.”

Andy Macdonald, the Labour MP for Middlesbrough, said: "it is about time that Minister (James Wharton) grew up."

Mr Wharton defended his comment and accused Labour MPs of using SSI’s woes to play politics, pointing to discussions he has had with Ms Turley as evidence of his commitment to the problem.