NetPark ministerial visit hi-jacked by Labour candidate

Sedgefield

Commons questions over minister's visit
A CONSERVATIVE MP will today table a question in the House of Commons after a by-election visit by a Labour Cabinet minister became embroiled in controversy.

John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise, toured NetPark, in Sedgefield, yesterday, accompanied by Labour candidate Phil Wilson.

Party officials insisted Mr Hutton's visit was made in a private capacity, but the Tories were fuming after their request for a similar visit earlier in the campaign was refused.

Conservative deputy chairman Michael Bates said that, ten days ago, he had asked NetPark to allow candidate Graham Robb and former party leader William Hague to visit the site.

But he said the request was turned down on the grounds that no political visits were to be allowed during the course of the by-election campaign.

Mr Bates: "Firstly, it is a case of double standards, having told us that there would be no political visits, and, secondly, we are concerned that John Hutton was there in a ministerial capacity and of course there are strict rules governing such visits."

Hexham MP Peter Atkinson said he would be tabling a Commons question today asking for the situation to be clarified.

However, Labour dismissed the claims. A regional party spokesman said: "John Hutton was there as John Hutton - there was no ministerial car, no ministerial staff and no ministerial transport."

He added: "If the Tories don't want to promote the region to the Government and ministers, that's up to them, but we certainly want people to know about what's happening in Sedgefield."

County Durham Development Company, which manages NetPark, declined to comment.
The Northern Echo

NetPark - victims of the Labour spin machine!
Greg Stone has condemned the local Labour Party for "deliberately misleading staff at NetPark". Greg was speaking after he was told that NetPark "...were unable to accommodate ANY political parties during this by-election." Greg had planned to visit NetPark to discuss the future of the project. The proposed visit to NetPark could not go ahead as it was 'political'. The same had happened to the Conservative candidate but the site was then visited by the Labour candidate. Greg Stone has joined the Conservatives in saying that it was "...unacceptable" The Managing Director said that he was "unaware that the Labour Candidate would be there" and presumed that it was "just a Ministerial visit."

Greg said, "The Labour Party claim that 'John Hutton was there as John Hutton' - that is not what we have been told. It is clear that Labour have tried to bypass NetPark's strict rules but it has backfired. The adverse publicity created by Labour is not welcome - NetPark are victims of the Labour spin machine. Labour's claim that the visit was made in a private capacity is not the version of events we have been told by NetPark.

"There are so many positive messages at NetPark - it's good for jobs and also plays a leading role in our region. I think it is a real shame that Labour have been caught out trying to mislead NetPark and I hope that they will apologise to them for dragging their good name into the gutter. I utterly condemn this behaviour and hope that they this is the last we will see during this campaign."

Sedgefield Lib Dems

Sedgefield Labour report on thr NetPark visit