North East MP said he is ‘100 per cent’ confident allegations of corruption surrounding Teesworks will be proven false and believes the report will come soon.

Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, told BBC One’s Politics North that he believes the report into the site, which has been subject to allegations of cronyism and wrongdoing, will be released in “a matter of days.”

The former Levelling Up Secretary said the report will clear both Teesworks and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen of any wrongdoing.

Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Mr Clarke said: “I think [the report] is coming very soon. That really does mean now a matter of days rather than weeks.

"I am 100% confident that that the substantive allegation of corruption will be proved to be false.

"Actually, I’m willing to say more broadly than that, the report will clear Teesworks and Ben Houchen of any impropriety."

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald questioned Mr Clarke’s assertion the report could come so soon, and added he hopes a statement from a Minister in Parliament addressing this.

He said: “This is interesting. Firstly, Simon Clarke is suggesting he has the inside track on the imminent release of the withheld Independent Assurance Review into Teesworks.

"Surprising that he should be told, given he’s hardly flavour of the month with his former Cabinet colleagues. Perhaps we can expect a statement from a Minister in Parliament in the coming week?

"Secondly, Clarke was Secretary of State for DLUHC for six weeks and that was six months before I raised the issue in the Commons.

"Thirdly, despite the comment of the BBC presenter, Houchen did not ask for this report. He went into denial and resistance when these matters surfaced.

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"He eventually followed then Shadow DLUHC Secretary Lisa Nandy, in her call for a NAO Inquiry and at no time did he call for this Independent Assurance Review. It was Michael Gove who commissioned it."

An investigation was launched into Teeworks in June amid allegations of cronyism and corruption surrounding its finances.

This comes shortly after Mr Clarke called for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to be replaced as the Conservative party’s leader.