The long-awaited report on Teesworks, a major redevelopment project in the UK, was released today after a 250-day wait since its announcement by Michael Gove and two months after the government received it. The report found no evidence of corruption but highlighted significant concerns regarding transparency and governance. It criticized the decision-making processes of the bodies involved, stating they did not meet the standards expected for managing public funds and had cost the taxpayer more than £560mn, with no private finance invested and private developers receiving £45mn in direct dividends. Despite these findings, the Tees Valley Combined Authority was confirmed to have made a land deal worth £39 million, contrary to claims of selling land for £100. The report concluded with 28 recommendations to improve governance and transparency, and calls have been made for a National Audit Office (NAO) investigation to ensure value for money for taxpayers. The report's release has sparked a political debate, with some MPs accusing others of lying and causing harm to Teesside's investment and job market. Andy McDonald MP has called for a fully independent NAO inquiry, citing the report's damning conclusion on governance and financial management.
The long-awaited Teesworks report was eventually published today. It found no evidence of corruption, but highlights concerns over transparency, governance and value for money - and 28 recommendations. Tomorrow's @TeessideLive front page and full story https://t.co/NDRNZllS8F https://t.co/FzQZUBQssT
Today, the Tories trotted out their mists & mirrors about Teesworks. Yet when we get into the meat of it we discover major flaws the report settled on in terms of governance, finance & accountability. They prove how right we were to be concerned. This is going to run and run. https://t.co/eiwO7MUkca
Today the minister trotted out his mists & mirrors about Teesworks. Yet when we get into the meat of it we discover major flaws the report settled on in terms of governance, finance & accountability. They prove how right we were to be concerned. This is going to run and run. https://t.co/0kvKww4R8F
If you want to see the divide between client journalists and real journalists, Tory propaganda media and real media, the coverage of the report into Houchen and Teesworks is a good case study. Tory spin = “cleared of corruption.” Truth = it is damning. At the least has to be full…
No 'corruption' at Teesworks development - but inquiry finds 'transparency and oversight' issues https://t.co/GQFkedpjwE
There are 28 detailed recommendations in the report into Teesworks demonstrating multiple failures, poor decision making, secrecy and poor governance. Yet to Tories claim all is well. It's not and they know it.
The long-delayed Teesworks report is a scathing assessment of Tory mismanagement and bad governance. Such poor value for money for taxpayers it’s no wonder they wanted to bury it. Michael Gove must now refer this case to the National Audit Office. https://t.co/jm6QHorjy0
What is Teesworks and what prompted an investigation into its management? https://t.co/0yE2wQTLzh https://t.co/0yE2wQTLzh
“The report found that, to date, the project has cost the taxpayer more than £560mn but that there had been “no private finance invested”. The private developer partners had also received £45mn in direct dividends” 🤯 Teesworks update, by @JenWilliams_FT https://t.co/KtgfIMrKd4
Teesworks has generated an incredible 35% profit, akin to margin made by Michelle Mone on PPE. Simply it’s yet more Conservative cronyism and gross profiteering at the public’s expense. Public wants Nat Audit @NAOorguk to investigate. https://t.co/mEOiXBxFtT
250 days after it was announced, two months after it was first received by officials & a week after Tory MPs have had sight of it, the government has finally published the assurance review into Teesworks. My statement on the damning report & why the NAO must now investigate👇 https://t.co/KHq1ioiAex
Also from earlier- the Teesworks report has not changed the essential facts and no amount of bluster from the Tories will make this a good deal for the taxpayer https://t.co/QzuzwOuzJb
the government review into the controversial Teesworks regeneration project, the UK’s largest freeport, has found no evidence of corruption although it said there were not sufficient guardrails in place to ensure value for money for taxpayers https://t.co/4vgS1beqhS
Teesworks review criticises project’s governance but finds no corruption https://t.co/Kag8g54CwI
Listening to the Tories, you wouldn't know the Teesworks report ends with this damning conclusion: "the governance & financial management arrangements are not of themselves sufficiently robust or transparent to evidence value for money." We need a fully independent NAO inquiry.
There are many things worth highlighting in the Teesworks report but one is that it criticises the mayoral development corporation’s board for “lack of challenge”. One of the board members is a govt minister
Mr Gove has praised Teesworks as a flagship for Freeport’s - yet today’s report highlights ‘decisions taken by the bodies involved do not meet the standards expected when managing public funds.’ So, it would now be wise to have a NAO investigation into the value for money for… https://t.co/YCUPKUjKRe
The Government's Teesworks report is out today and lists a huge number of governance issues and raises further questions about whether taxpayers have seen value for money- we repeat our call for the National Audit Office to undertake an investigation https://t.co/SIpQJntKYw
Teesworks inquiry: 'No evidence of corruption' at site https://t.co/lq73cjJrvr https://t.co/lq73cjJrvr
The Teesworks report is scathing - it criticises Tees Valley Combined Authority for: • “inappropriate decisions” • “lack of transparency” • “lack of oversight” It didn’t find evidence of corruption but there will be calls for special measures. https://t.co/unDObPrm6a https://t.co/bjHBTwIrmB
Some wide interpretations of the report conclusions. But its clear the taxpayer has lost out by £millions, and even with a limited scope there are far more questions than answers. #TeessideFreeport https://t.co/L7aK45abkz
Just going through the Teesside panel report and this summary in @PrivateEyeNews is standing up well… https://t.co/4zTKVUAzMh
The question all Teessiders are asking, which this report does not answer, is - how has a site which has so much potential, and which was owned by the public, ended up in the hands of two hand-picked developers for a few hundred quid, who are now making millions? #teesworks
Very simply, the independent report into #Teesworks establishes that Andy McDonald MP was not telling the truth when he alleged ‘industrial scale corruption’ in the House of Commons last year. 1/4
Responding to #teesworks review finding “no evidence” of “corruption or illegality" @AndyMcDonaldMP tells me he’s “staggered” by report & that “there are massive concerns about governance, finance, oversight, scrutiny, value for money. All the things I’ve said over these years.”
The Teesworks report concludes decisions made at the site "do not meet standards expected when managing public funds". It makes 28 recommendations to improve governance and transparency for the project. https://t.co/fNo3bU42HN
'No evidence of corruption' at Teesworks - inquiry https://t.co/EN3Xxz2z8g
Inquiry finds some Teesworks redevelopment decisions 'do not meet standards expected' for managing public funds - https://t.co/2Iuq7uMvzR
Here's the full report into Teessworks No corruption, they found. However, there are issues of governance and transparency that need to be addressed and a number of decisions taken by the bodies involved do not meet the standards expected when managing public funds. The…
A report into claims of cronyism and corruption surrounding finances at the Teesworks site has found no evidence of wrongdoing, but has criticised a lack of transparency https://t.co/uUm3hcYSRH
🚨 @TeesworksUK Independent Review published 👉 In black and white, “no evidence to support allegations of corruption or illegality”. Confirms land was not sold for £100, but instead a wider deal was done worth £39m. ❌@AndyMcdonaldMP LIED and cost Teesside investment & jobs. https://t.co/40Ckkblef0
It appears the long-awaited report into Teesworks will finally be published today, exactly 250 days after @michaelgove announced it. Yet the government received a copy two months ago. We'll need answers today from the minister in the Commons about what on earth's been going on.
An inquiry into claims of cronyism and corruption surrounding finances at the Teesworks site will be out “within days”, according to a former minister https://t.co/nBA5h6C68D