AN MP has been met with backlash after he campaigned to get a Teesside chicken parmo on the House of Commons menu.

Matt Vickers MP for Stockton South wrote a letter a few weeks ago to the Parliamentary catering team asking to include the popular Teesside dish in the menu.

It has since emerged that it was added to the menu, however, not everyone is a fan of the decision, with other leaders stating that 'there are more important things' to be discussing right now during a global pandemic and households losing £20 a week, due to Universal Credit cuts.

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North, said: "I’m sure people in Westminster will enjoy trying the parmo, but in a month when almost £1.5 million is taken out of the Tees Valley economy and 75,000 households will lose £20 a week as a result of cuts to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits, I think there are more important things for Parliament and Parliamentarians to be discussing right now.”

Read more: Teesside actress slams MP's focus on adding parmo to Westminster menu

Labour Stockton Borough Council, Councillor, Bob Cook, said: "I think if I was a Member of Parliament I think I'd mark higher priorities than trying to get the parmo on a House of Commons menu. Especially when there's a pandemic still going - infection rates going up, fuel prices are going up, there's a shortage and he's spending his time trying to get something on the House of Commons menu, apart from MPs won't benefit anyone in Stockton South.

"It's not the most healthiest of meal is it? It's probably one of the most unhealthy dishes you could get.

"I think his time would be better spent in helping those residents in Stockton South with issues on fuel poverty, on unemployment and obviously on Covid as well.

"There's lots of things in the constituency I think he should be focusing on it's about helping the individual as well - it seems to me a bit of a publicity stunt, what he's done. It won't benefit anyone in Stockton South apart from himself."

In response, Mr Vickers, said: "It’s utterly fantastic that a small slice of Teesside has made its way to the heart of British democracy. In reality, this letter took me a couple of minutes to write and I am extremely grateful to the Commons catering team for making this happen. Putting that into perspective, last week I sent just shy of 400 emails to constituents on a whole host of different topics, from national issues to local problems.

“Since sending the letter, I have been inundated with local chefs wanting to come to Parliament to show them how a real parmo is made.

“In reality, it is heartening to have Teesside be the talk of Westminster again.”

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