Starmer addresses Teesworks controversy in Middlesbrough College visit

The Labour leader was speaking after Andy McDonald, Middlesbrough MP, called for a full investigation into what he called “industrial scale corruption” at the former Redcar steelworks site in relation to the sale of freeholds for the future site of a wind turbine factory from the public sector.

But Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen strongly denied the claims, adding they had not “given the site away” to the private sector, and that profits totalling £30 million per year would be split equally between Redcar Council and STDC.

Read more: Labour announces to axe non-dom tax rate in Barnard Castle visit

Speaking to The Northern Echo during a visit to Middlesbrough College, Starmer said: “Very serious questions are there that the Government needs to answer.

Keir Starmer. (Image: PA NEWS AGENCY)

“If we were in power, we would have a strategy for the area that would be laser focused on building local business and working in partnership with them, seeing living standards raised across Teesside.

“We’ve still got people whose wages haven’t gone up, people who can’t afford the bills they have to pay, people who are worried about the NHS locally and crime and anti-social behaviour.

He added: “Those are the things that we would be laser focused on and we would have a proper plan for the area.”

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Mayor Houchen said: “This site is independently valued at minus £482million - at the time of the steelworks closure it was costing the taxpayer £20million per year forever.

“Trade Unions and local Labour MPs were calling on Government to stump up £500million of taxpayer’s cash, it was a huge liability and there was a real concern by the Teesside local authorities that it would bankrupt the councils. The suggestion that we’ve given away a site worth millions is demonstrably untrue.

“If it wasn’t for this public-private partnership, we would not have touched a single part of the steelworks, we wouldn’t have landed a single investment, we would not be seeing construction underway and we wouldn’t be able to look people in the eye and say we’re creating thousands of good-quality, well-paid jobs for local people… and it would still be costing the taxpayer £20million per year.”

He stressed the deal was reviewed and scrutinised by the TVCA Cabinet on March 17 and was then unanimously approved by the cabinet - which is made up of Mayor Ben Houchen (Conservative), Cllr Bob Cook (Labour), Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston (Independent), Cllr Shane Moore (Independent), Cllr Mary Lanigan (Independent) and Cllr Jonathan Dulston (Conservative).

Laying out Labour’s vision for the NHS during his visit, Starmer spoke to students he called the “next generation” of the health service and answered their questions on how a Labour Government could make it “fit for the future”.

Speaking to Health and Social care students, Sir Keir said it is Labour’s priority to “make sure (the NHS) is fit for the next 75 years”, announcing commitments to create local health and mental health community hubs.

Keir Starmer with Middlesbrough College Students. (Image: PA NEWS AGENCY)

Read more: ‘This is the Conservative vision’: Chancellor visits Redcar College

The party’s other plans include doubling medical school places, expanding the NHS workforce and funding the service by abolishing the non-dom tax status.

However, when asked whether new hospitals would be part of Labour’s plans for the NHS, Starmer criticised the current Governments’ 2019 pledge to build 40 new hospitals – as to date only ten have been built.

He said: “I think that promise from the Conservatives in 2019 has been shown to be just like all of their other promises. A promise that was made that would never be delivered.

“What we would do is rebuild the NHS to make it for the future which means work on hospitals as there are hospitals in Teesside that need a lot of support.”

Keir Starmer takes selfies with students. (Image: MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE)

Labour’s axing of the non-dom tax status to provide for the service is led by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting who in February confirmed plans to cutting the rate.

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This was announced after it was revealed that over 65,000 people are waiting over twenty-eight days for a GP appointment in the North East.

He said: “The NHS is in the biggest crisis in its history. We’ve got the highest waiting lists in the history of the NHS.

“For the first time ever, emergency care is broken to such an extent that when people dial 999 or visit an A&E they can’t be guaranteed to receive the emergency care they need.”