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Business Secretary Sajid Javid described Redcar as part of the “North West” after visiting Teesside to discuss help for 1,700 steelworkers who have lost their jobs.

The apparent slip of the tongue was criticised by one MP, who said Teesside and the wider North East region didn’t appear to be a priority for the government.

Mr Javid was speaking on BBC Radio 4’s lunchtime news show, The World at One

Asked about the Government’s £80m package of aid to help 1,700 former steelworkers who have lost their jobs, he said: “I think it will provide a huge amount of help, not least because this is happening in an environment where the overall UK economy is strong.

“But that strength has led to a huge amount of inward investment into the area and the wider North West area.”

Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “It just goes to show. I know he came up here, but you have to wonder how much of a priority we are for them.

“It’s frightening. After all it’s been the lead item on the news all day.”

Mr Javid, the MP for Bromsgrove near Birmingham, was born in Rochdale, Lancashire but grew up in Bristol.

He visited Teesside along with Business Minister Anna Soubry to meet a local taskforce led by Amanda Skelton, Chief Executive of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which is leading efforts to help people who have lost their jobs and support the wider economy following the mothballing of Thai firm SSI’s Redcar plant.

The government has announced a package of aid worth up to £80 million, including funding for affected workers to train at local further education colleges and tailored support for them via Jobcentre Plus.

It also includes finance to assist workers if they want to start up their own business and for local small businesses to grow and create jobs.

In a statement issued by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Mr Javid confirmed that SSI had asked for government funding but said it would have been impossible to provide the money.

He said: “After weeks of discussions the government can also confirm that the company made a last minute and unrealistic request for the taxpayer to make an open-ended funding commitment to maintain the coke ovens in Redcar.

The government cannot accept the request. On the basis of the limited business case it was given, the government has no confidence that this is a realistic proposal for taxpayers to support.

“In addition, it would be illegal and in breach of state aid rules. The company has never made a profit and the board’s proposal would do nothing to address the huge debts outstanding to local suppliers and other parties.

“The Thai parent company of SSI UK has also posted on its website that it has entered “rehabilitation” under Thai law. Clearly liquidation in the UK is a risk.”

The government will be holding a steel summit on Friday 16 October, where steel companies, MPs, trade unions and representatives of the Welsh and Scottish governments will consider how to save what remains of the UK’s steel industry.