AN MP has described a Government job advert as a “sick joke” in a London-based position to lead a project to support the regeneration of the former SSI steelworks.

Redcar MP Anna Turley raised her concerns over the job description for a project leader for the Tees Valley’s mayoral development corporation, which “can include occasional trips” to the region.

The role has been created to regenerate brownfield sites in the North-East with Redcar’s ex-SSI works being the key focus of the position, working alongside Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

The job is currently being advertised by the Department for Communities and Local Government and offers a salary of between £49,525 and £58,806.

Ms Turley said: “This job will be a leading position overseeing the regeneration of the steelworks site.

“A big challenge that is crucial to bringing decent jobs to our area. Why on earth, then, is it based in London – with only occasional trips to Teesside?

“It’s a sick joke when this site, and thousands of jobs, could have been saved if central Government ministers and civil servants had acted in the first place.

“We have a lot of talented people in our region with the knowledge and experience to take on a role like this. It makes me mad that so few of these posts are based outside of London.

“The people working on this project need to be here on the ground, not hidden away in an office in Whitehall. So much for devolution.”

The Redcar MP has also called on Mr Houchen to discuss the job role with his colleagues.

However, he has defended the Government's decision to advertise the job, adding that Ms Turley is "out of touch" with plans to support the Redcar works.

Mr Houchen who chairs the new South Tees Development Corporation, said: “This not a local appointment. This is a Civil Service position advertised by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

"I will always welcome additional dedicated staff in the heart of Government working to transform the former SSI steelworks site.

“The Government is throwing more time, money and resources on the most significant economic opportunity for Redcar in decades.

"This follows a number of secondments from Government, where they have already sent full-time staff to the Tees Valley to focus exclusively on this project.

"This is in addition to our own plans to recruit local staff internally, within the mayoral development corporation.

“It’s extremely concerning that the Kent-born MP for Redcar is trying to jump on the wording of a standard Civil Service job advert.

"It is even more worrying that she is so ignorant of the facts on the ground.

"It must be a real concern to the people of Redcar that their MP is so out of touch on our exciting plans for the old SSI site.”