Gove denies knowing of Government ‘interference’ with independent Teesworks probe
The Levelling Up Secretary said he had ‘no reason to doubt the integrity’ of staff.
Michael Gove has denied being aware of any Government “interference” with the independent review into the controversial Teesworks development.
The Levelling Up Secretary said that he “can’t believe” officials would attempt to dilute the report into allegations of corruption and illegality linked to the flagship regeneration project.
Mr Gove ordered the probe last May, with chief executive of Lancashire County Council Angie Ridgwell appointed chairwoman.
During a Business and Trade Committee hearing on Wednesday, Labour MP Ian Lavery said: “There’s a big fear that, and there’s an understanding, by the way… that there’s been some interference from your officials with regards to the initial findings of this review.”
Mr Lavery said it might be “helpful” if communication between officials and Ms Ridgwell could be sent to the committee “for clarification”.
The minister replied: “I have no reason at all to doubt her integrity, the integrity of her team or the integrity of officials…
“If on publication there are further questions that you or anyone else wants to ask, then I will make sure we address them.”
Pressed on whether officials had suggested redrafts of the inquiry’s report to the chairwoman, Mr Gove said: “I am absolutely determined that it should be published at the earliest possible opportunity, and I am not aware of anything which would amount to interference with the report.
“It may well be the case that officials have provided additional information upon request.
“It might well be the case that an initial proposition is put then more information comes to light and then something is qualified and maybe qualified in a way that is more or less critical.”
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) later said suggestions of interference were “untrue” and it had not yet received the final report.
The announcement of the probe last year caused controversy over the decision not to involve the public spending watchdog.
Mr Gove insisted on Wednesday that it would not have been “appropriate” work for the National Audit Office to undertake and that appointing an “unimpeachably independent figure from the world of local government” was better.
But he refused to give a deadline for when the findings, saying that he could not “force the hand of an independent investigator.”
With the conclusion of the investigation having been delayed several times, Mr Lavery also warned there was a feeling that it had been “kicked into the long grass because of the mayoral elections in May.”
It is currently due to be completed this spring, having initially been expected last summer.
Mr Gove insisted that “no one wants (it) published more than” Ben Houchen, the Tory Mayor of Tees Valley who chairs the South Tees Development Corporation which oversees the Teesworks development.
Asked whether he could commit to releasing the report before purdah – the pre-election period – the minister said: “I think we have to.”
Mr Gove confirmed that some in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will have seen “at least part of it” but that he has not seen it.
Concerns about the Teesworks project were previously raised by Labour MP Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) in the Commons, who alleged “truly shocking, industrial-scale corruption” related to funding in Teesside.
When approached for comment about the reported concern over interference, a DLUHC spokesperson said: “This is untrue – we have not received the final report which is independent of this department.
“The review was established following allegations of corruption and illegality, and we will publish the report after it has been submitted to the department.”
