POLITICIANS have clashed over an MP's attempt to seek assurances from Amazon bosses about job security and workplace conditions at the online retailer's new Darlington distribution centre.

Last week, Darlington MP Jenny Chapman and Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson sent a joint letter to Doug Gurr, head of Amazon UK, calling for the new site, next to Lingfield Point, to deliver well-paid and secure jobs, as well as training opportunities and career prospects.

The Northern Echo:

But Peter Gibson, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Darlington, said Ms Chapman "seems hell bent on doing her utmost to ensure that no one ever applies for a job at what will be one of Darlington’s biggest employers".

In response, Ms Chapman said it was "nonsensical" to suggest that demanding the best working conditions for residents is "somehow a bad thing".

The letter comes on the back of an investigation by the GMB Union which claimed the online retailer was "one of the most dangerous places to work in Britain".

The union described the conditions as "dehumanising", with examples of workers use plastic bottles to urinate in, pregnant women forced to stand for hours on end and being targeted for dismissal, and a situation where a woman had a miscarriage at work, an ambulance was not called, and she went home on the bus, with her co-associates in blood stained clothes.

The letter stated: "We would welcome commitments from Amazon to assuage our concerns about the job security, workplace safety, training opportunities, and career prospects of future employees and believe a commitment to meet with the GMB Union to discuss the possibility of a trade union recognition agreement."

Amazon dispute the findings and say they offer industry-leading pay, benefits, and a safe workplace for their employees.

Mr Gibson said: "Darlington’s current MP seems hell bent on doing her utmost to ensure that no one ever applies for a Job at what will be one of Darlington’s biggest employers.

"As for one of the most dangerous places to work what a slap in the face to our military police and fire service."

Ms Chapman said: “My priority is to ensure that anybody who works at Amazon in Darlington is in safe and secure employment.

"It is nonsensical to suggest that demanding the best working conditions for residents is somehow a bad thing.

"It is my responsibility to stand up for my constituents. They will always come first.”

Ms Chapman previously said it would be naive to suggest "Victorian" working conditions at Amazon fulfilment centres will not be replicated at their new Darlington site.