24/09/09 - MPs Snub Call for Corus Wage Support

Teesside's Labour MPs have been criticised by a Conservative rival for not responding to an appeal for wage support for Corus workers.  The Conservative candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland, Paul Bristow, wrote to the region’s MPs on July 8^th asking them to 'work together and fight to save jobs' and stated that wage support was preferable to 'the tragic consequences of unemployment and added welfare and benefit bills.'

Paul recieved responses from Redcar MP Vera Baird, and his opponent at the next election Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar.  However, Dari Taylor MP (Stockton South), Frank Cook MP (Stockton North), Iain Wright (Hartlepool) and Sir Stuart Bell MP (Middlesbrough) are all yet to respond.

Commenting, Paul stated:

"I think it is the height of arrogance not to respond to a genuine appeal for action.  Whilst not supporting my call for wage support, the two MPs who did respond at least acknowledged the request. I cannot imagine what was going through the minds of the four MPs who ignored my letter.  It is simply unacceptable!

"Steve Gibson and Ray Mallon have been right to speak out on this.  It is no longer good enough to say things are being done behind the scenes.  Our MPs have to spell out clearly what they are doing to save jobs.

"The Government is predicting economic recovery, so helping Corus and others on temporary basis as the Dutch Government have makes sense.  If money can go to help the car industry in the West Midlands, why not the steel industry on Teesside?''