Middlesbrough's MPs are clashing after Eton College was given the green light for plans to build a new sixth form in the area.

Andy McDonald initially opposed the plans to build a new sixth-form college in the area and he maintains his resistance to the idea.

He believes that the new college will simply 'cream off' the best students in the area that would have done well already.

In a statement, he described how deeply regrettable it is that educational experts were ignored when the green light was given.

Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South, described how 'happy' he was with the announcement.

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He said: "I have loved meeting Eton and Star and am so pleased to have helped play a small part in bringing this journey to a successful conclusion.

"But I cannot praise two people enough this morning for their consistent championing of this amazing initiative: former Middlesbrough Mayor Tees Issues by Andy Preston and former Deputy Mayor and Nunthorpe champion Councillor Mieka Smiles.

"Without their hard work - in the face of consistent attacks, sadly, from Andy McDonald MP, who didn’t want this to happen - this new school would not be coming to Teesside in the next few years.  

"Labour’s allergic reaction to anything that smacks of unashamed academic attainment for the brightest, or still less any involvement by Eton, even though it’s wholly charitable here, would have poisoned the well.

"This goes to the very heart of the debate about what we want Teesside to be, and how we unlock its potential. Today is a victory for academic excellence, equality of opportunity and social justice, and a defeat for the tired dogma that sadly characterises the local Labour Party."

Andy McDonald said: "I am extremely focused on making sure our young people have the very best educational opportunities, but this is not the right plan.

"I raised my concerns when the proposal was first mooted and I remain of the same view.

"The evidence is that we already have a surplus of post 16 education capacity across the Tees Valley.

"There is a strong argument for consolidating what we already have rather than add more providers into the mix.

"The Principals of our Sixth Forms and Further Education colleges across the Tees Valley are understandably worried.

"I share their unlimited ambitions for our youngsters, but they are vehemently opposed to this plan as they know it will undermine those very ambitions.

"Colleges have real problems recruiting and retaining teaching staff now.  Introducing an additional college provider will make a bad situation even worse."

Eton College is going to set up new selective state schools at Middlesbrough, Dudley and Oldham after the Department of Education approved their plans.

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He added: "This new college will simply cream off, and badge as their own, our most able and advantaged students who will succeed in any event, and inevitably the requirement for new staff to teach in this facility will add more pressure to an already difficult situation.

"It is deeply regrettable that the views of the expert educationalists in our area have been ignored for political gain.

"At the date the centre will be opened, the numbers of 16-18 years olds will be once again in decline and so yet again the lack of evidence-based policy making and joined up thinking from this government never ceases to amaze me."