Business secretary Kemi Badenoch has been ridiculed for incorrectly calling Ben Houchen the newly re-elected Conservative mayor for Tyne Tees - instead of Tees Valley Mayor. 

Badenoch's gaffe was made in a post today (Monday, May 13) on X (formerly Twitter), marking her visit to the British Steel Lackenby site with staff and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen on Friday (10 May).

The Northern Echo:

The mistake was quickly picked up by commentators who replied to the gaffe, pointing out there was of course another Mayor for the North East elected on the same day.

And that Tyne Tees is of course a regional ITV news channel for region.

One replied: "On behalf of every other Teessider, we do not live on the Tyne".

Another posted: "A bit worrying that the Business Secretary @KemiBadenoch isn't sure about the region Ben Houchen was elected as Mayor for...does she even know there was another election up the road?"

An hour after it was posted the original tweet was deleted and Mr Houchen's correct title was given. 

Mr Houchen was re-elected in the 2024 Mayoral elections, securing a third mayoral term in the position, but with a reduced majority.

Here is the corrected post:

I was joined by newly re-elected Conservative Mayor for Tees Valley @BenHouchen, for a tour of the @BritishSteelUK plant by Teesworks.

Alongside @jacobyoungMP and @simonclarkeMP, we visited the proposed site of the Electric Arc Furnace which heralds a new future for UK steel… pic.twitter.com/1Jr7UizYVf