A CANDIDATE hoping to be the first Tees Valley mayor has been hit with fresh criticism for his comments about a collapsed steel works.

Teesside MPs Anna Turley and Tom Blenkinsop have described Ben Houchen’s comments as “insulting” and “frankly unbelievable”.

Mr Houchen, who is the Conservative candidate for Tees Valley mayor, said yesterday the government had made a success out of the closure of Redcar’s SSI plant, adding it should be used as a “blueprint” example across the world.

But Ms Turley, MP for Redcar, said the livelihoods of thousands of families in Redcar and across Teesside were “shattered” by the closure of the steelworks.

“People here certainly do not feel like they have been rescued by the Tory government,” she said.

“Far from being a blueprint example of how to deal with a steel crisis, the government were complacent on the challenges facing the steel industry, sat on their hands whilst SSI went under, and have committed no funds to help the clean-up of the site.

“Some ex-steelworkers have managed to get back on their feet after the closure and the funding pot for training has helped, but far too many are still out of work or have taken up lesser paid jobs.

“If we are recovering it is down to the determination and resilience of local people, no thanks are due to this government.”

More than 2,000 jobs were lost when SSI went into liquidation in 2015, but Mr Houchen said the government had shown how to “rescue an area”.

He also said many of those who had lost their jobs as a result of the closure were now back in work or had been successful in starting their own business.

Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said Mr Houchen’s take on the loss of steelmaking in Redcar was “absurd” and “shameful”.

"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.”

Mr Houchen is standing to be mayor of the Tees Valley alongside Sue Jeffrey of Labour, John Tennant of UKIP , John Tait of the North East Party.

The candidates were quizzed by North-East business leaders at an event on Wednesday as they outlined their vision and plans should they be successful in May's election.