The minister responsible for the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’ has attempted to play down the death of the steel industry on Teesside as a “tragic distraction” from the government’s agenda.

The remark on the closure of the SSI steel plant — with the loss of at least 1,700 jobs — is the latest in a series of gaffes by the Thatcherite, whose own constituency is affected by the crisis:

Snubbing a Commons debate on the issue to attend a business dinner

Saying of northern job losses that they were “not my responsibility”

Tweeting an inane selfie on the day job losses announced

Dismissing rally on local jobs as just people “stood on a beach” (below)

They were just "stood on a beach" << Tory minister describes rally of 2,000 people trying to save their jobs (AUDIO) https://t.co/rdHvcvzQwo — Political Scrapbook (@PSbook) September 28, 2015

Wharton was slammed by another local MP for his speech at the ‘Northern Powerhouse Breakfast’ in Durham this morning — with claims that he hadn’t even bothered to mentioned the steel industry:

At Northern Powerhouse breakfast listening to James Wharton. Totally meaningless waffle and not a single word in his speech about SSI — Andy McDonald (@AndyMcDonaldMP) October 16, 2015

Scrapbook hears McDonald walked out of the meeting in disgust.