AN independent deputy mayor has accused Middlesbrough’s Labour MP of “completely ignoring” requests for “vital talks” on the town’s drugs crisis.

Middlesbrough’s deputy mayor, Cllr Antony High, says Labour MP, Andy McDonald, failed to respond to requests for a meeting despite “several invitations”.

In August Mr McDonald, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, said he would be “perfectly happy to have a sensible conversation with Cllr High” to discuss potential further steps in tackling the scourge of drug addiction in the town.

But Cllr High, who was appointed by mayor Andy Preston to tackle the town’s drug crisis, says he has been left frustrated by the MP’s “unwillingness to work with him for the benefit of the town”.

“Despite Mr McDonald’s public proclamation that he would be ‘perfectly happy’ to meet me, the truth is that he has point blank refused to do so,” said the Ayresome ward councillor.

He added: “Unfortunately, Andy McDonald is putting party politics before the town and its people.

“I’ve sent him emails with good intentions, asking him to sit down and discuss the various complex issues around drug addiction that affect our town.”

He added: “But it seems Mr McDonald will only sit down and discuss serious issues if you’re on his side – or, at the very least, a paid-up member of the Labour Party. I understand that I’m not alone among non-Labour politicians who has refused to work with.

“It’s a terribly sad example of how national party politics is choking local democracy.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen the emails from Cllr High to Mr McDonald in which the deputy requested a meeting with the Middlesbrough MP. The emails don’t specifically mention the issue of drugs.

The first, sent April 10, while Cllr High was still a candidate, received a reply from Mr McDonald on April 15 stating that as a Labour MP, he would be supporting Labour candidates and, that as a result, it would be more appropriate to meet following the local elections.

The second email, which was sent by Cllr High on May 13 following the election, did not receive a response from Mr McDonald.

Speaking to the LDRS, Mr McDonald said: “We do not have that email dated May 13.

“I met Clr High twice over the weekend and I will meet with him whenever is convenient for him. I am yet to hear from him.”

A subsequent statement from Mr McDonald’s office said: “There is no record of an email from Cllr High on or after May 13.

“Andy attended a community event on Friday just past, September 6. Mr High was present.

“Andy spoke with him about this matter and explained that save for Cllr High’s his pre-election email, in which there was no mention of wanting to address the issue of drugs, no further emails had been received.

“Andy advised Cllr High that he was nevertheless happy to meet with him.

“Andy returned to his office and sent Cllr High an email offering him an appointment to discuss on Friday September 13.

“Andy saw Cllr High at the UK Recovery Walk on Saturday September 7 and asked if the email had been received to which Cllr High replied that it had but it seemed unclear as to whether the meeting was being confirmed or not given his very brief response: ‘Yes but I’ll have to catch you’.

“To date there has been no response but the offer remains effective.”

In response, Cllr High said: “I finally received an email from Mr McDonald last Friday agreeing to a meeting but only after the media had contacted him about my complaint that he had not replied to my previous requests for a meeting.

“It’s frustrating that it’s taken this route to get a response but I look forward to setting up a meeting and finally sitting down to talk about the town’s more pressing issues.”

At the time of publication, the LDRS understood a meeting had not yet been scheduled between Cllr High and Mr McDonald.