James Cleverly denies calling Stockton North derogatory term

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly is facing allegations from Labour MP Alex Cunningham, who claims that Cleverly used an offensive term to describe Stockton North during the recent Prime Minister's Questions. Cunningham asserted that the incident occurred after he raised concerns about child poverty in the constituency.

During the parliamentary exchange, Cunningham asked, "Why are 34% of children in my constituency living in poverty?" After Prime Minister's Questions, Cunningham made a point of order in the Commons, stating that Cleverly, the Home Secretary, added his input by reportedly saying, "because it's a shithole." Cunningham went on to claim that he had contacted Cleverly's office in advance, informing him of his intention to name him but received no response. Cunningham stated, "He was seen and heard to say 'because it's a shithole.' I know he is denying being the culprit, but the audio is clear and has been checked, and checked, and checked again."

Cleverly's spokesperson vehemently denied the accusation, asserting, "He did not say that, and would not. He's disappointed people would accuse him of doing so." The denial sets the stage for a clash between the two political figures over the accuracy of the reported remarks.

The incident has further escalated as Chris McDonald, Labour's candidate for Stockton North, condemned the alleged remarks, calling them a "disgrace" and suggesting that they reveal the Conservative Party's view of Teesside. Cunningham, who has decided not to stand in the next election, urged Conservative councillor Niall Innes to condemn the alleged remarks made by Cleverly.

Despite the claims and denials, Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing noted that Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle did not hear any such remarks during the original exchange. The conflicting accounts and the potential fallout from this incident add a layer of tension to the political landscape, particularly given the high-profile nature of the parliamentary session in which it occurred.