A ROW has erupted after Middlesbrough’s mayor declined to answer questions on coronavirus during an extraordinary council meeting. 

Middlesbrough’s opposition Labour group triggered Wednesday night's meeting to debate a new calendar of full council meetings for the year ahead – as well as the council’s response to the pandemic. 

Labour wanted Mr Preston to present a written report on Covid-19 before facing queries from councillors.

But the independent mayor declined questions, accusing opponents of “playing politics” and “partaking in silly games”.  

Mr Preston said Covid had brought strange circumstances – adding it was a “monstrous” problem which had hit the lives, health and job security of many people.  

He believed the authority had communicated very well since the start of the crisis – pointing to the interviews he’d had with national and local media as well as information he’d put out on social media. 

The  mayor said: “People like our chief executive have given briefings to members about exactly what’s happening, exactly what we’re trying to do and why we’re doing it.

“There shouldn’t be a single person on this call who doesn’t know what they want to. And I don’t think there is a single person who can hand on heart say they’ve got a good reason to have a written overview of what we’re doing because they know.

“What people are doing is playing politics, and now is not the era to play politics – now is the era to work together, work hard and get things done.

“I will continue to liaise with the public, the police and do everything I can and continue to be available to anyone who wants to talk to me. 

“What I won’t do is partake in silly games which waste other people's time and push us backwards instead of forwards.”

The mayor then confirmed he wouldn’t be taking questions – but members posed some anyway during a later debate. Labour group leader Cllr Matt Storey said there were cross party fears that decisions were being taken  “behind closed doors” at the council – with concerns about policies announced through the mayor’s own Facebook page or press releases.

Cllr Storey rounded off saying he was very disappointed Mr Preston had refused to answer queries from the floor. 

The next full council meeting will be on September 2.