McMahon: Ministers behaving like ‘Houchen’s henchmen’ on Teesside shellfish die-off

During DEFRA questions today Labour spokesperson Jim McMahon asked the secretary of state Thérèse Coffey about the Teesside crustacean die-off.

He said: “It’s wrong that public figures, instead of stepping up like true public servants, are acting like Houchen’s henchmen, pound shop goons, closing down debate and legitimate challenge. Well, it won’t work. It’s not going away”.

Ms Coffey responded: “I’m really disappointed by that. The shadow secretary of state has basically impugned the integrity of the chief scientific adviser of DEFRA”.