THE Government’s handling of a collapsed steel works should be used as a“blueprint” example across the world, it was last night claimed.

Ben Houchen, Conservative candidate for the first mayor of the Tees Valley, said a success has been made out of the closure of Redcar’s SSI plant.

More than 2,000 jobs were lost when SSI went into liquidation in 2015, but the Stockton Borough Council Conservative leader said many of those workers are now back in employment, and the Government had shown how to “rescue an area.”

Sue Jeffrey, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council and Labour’s Tees Valley mayor candidate, described the comments as “reckless”, saying there is an “awful lot still to be done.”

Mr Houchen said: “SSI was a tragedy, but a lot has already been done since then to make it a success.

“Most of the people who lost their jobs are now back in work or have been successful with start-ups.

“What the government has done to help should be used as a blueprint example in how to rescue an area.”

Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, added: "I think the comments are a disgrace and show the Tories have no qualms about what they did. They think everything is fine now. It shows shocking complacency and self-congratulation after their devastation of 175 years of a proud industry and 3,000 livelihoods."

Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, said the comments were “frankly unbelievable”.

"The Government failed to step in to save the SSI plant, which was one of the most efficient in Europe, and if it was saved would be making a solid profit today. 

“The Government fought against trade defence measures at the European level to stop Chinese dumping saying that it unfairly protects inefficient plants - while allowing efficient plants in the UK to close.

"Employment still hasn't recovered in my constituency and Redcar, and the Government’s response was a blueprint for nothing but failure.

“The fact local Tories are trying to spin this loss of such a major plant as a success is absurd and frankly shameful. 

"It shows the Tories both locally and nationally aren't willing to fight for industries in our area."

Cllr Jeffrey said the closure of the SSI steel works was “a tragedy and nothing other than a tragedy”.

“Before the SSI closure, Redcar had the highest average wage in the Tees Valley, and now it has the lowest.

“It is not just about the jobs and the businesses, it is about the quality and the sustainability of those jobs.”

Mr Houchen made the comments at an event in Middlesbrough, where North-East business leaders gathered to question the four mayoral candidates about their vision for the Tees Valley.

He was joined by Cllr Jeffrey, John Tennant of UKIP , John Tait of the North East Party and Chris McDonald, the event’s chair and chief executive at the Materials Processing Institute.

The candidates received questions about transport investment, devolution and opportunities for the region post-Brexit.

Mr Houchen, who last week called for Cleveland Police to be scrapped as part of his campaign, said: “The Mayor should act as an ambassador for the Tees Valley, going on dedicated trade missions to help find new contacts.

Cllr Jeffrey added: “It is about how we sell ourselves – we need to tell people we are the Tees Valley, and the role of the Mayor gives us a voice to do that.”

Mr Tennant said he hoped to build strong links with businesses and Westminster, whilst Mr Tait stressed the importance of electrifying train lines to east Cleveland.