A TEESSIDE MP has criticised a local mayor's behaviour after he was blocked on Twitter. 

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, slammed Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen for his "utterly pathetic" response to his questioning.

In a post on social media Mr McDonald said: "The Teesside Valley Mayor has refused to reply to my correspondence regarding his governance of the Teesworks site.

"He’s now done this. 

"What an utterly pathetic way for an elected representative to behave.

"This won’t stop me asking the tough questions."

Read more: Ben Houchen accused of 'selling people down the river'

But the Tory mayor hit back at Mr McDonald on Wednesday, accusing the Labour MP of making "random, baseless and reckless accusations without foundation".

Mr Houchen said: “I’m sure local people in Middlesbrough will be delighted to see that their MP is more concerned with who’s following him on Twitter rather than working to improve the town.

“I’m working tirelessly to bring thousands of well-paid jobs to our region, while Andy McDonald makes random, baseless and reckless accusations without foundation that only do damage to Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

"I will not be distracted by Andy’s wild conspiracy theories and I’ve always taken the view that the best way to deal with online trolls is to block them.”

Mr Houchen has recently has been accused of “selling the people of Teesside down the river” after an agreement saw more shares in a vast regeneration scheme go to private firms.

It was revealed 90 per cent of shares in Teesworks are now in private hands.

But the Conservative mayor has returned fire – arguing private sector investment is “essential” to the future of the former steelworks land, and a public body will “still control the site”.

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