James Cleverly has apologised for using "inappropriate language" about a Labour MP after a week of controversy.
The home secretary said sorry for how he spoke to MP Alex Cunningham but denied describing his constituency, Stockton North, as a “shithole”.
Addressing the controversy directly for the first time, Mr Cleverly said he "would never" insult Stockton.
He said: "For the avoidance of doubt... I did not, would not and would never make such comments about his constituency."
Responding to a point of order raised by Mr Cunningham, the home secretary said: "I know what I said. I rejected the accusation that I criticised his constituency.
"My criticism, which I made from a sedentary position, about the honourable gentleman used inappropriate language for which I apologise.
"But I will not accept that my criticism was of his constituency because it was not."
His spokesman previously said: “He did not say that, and would not. He’s disappointed people would accuse him of doing so.”
This comes just days after Mr Cleverly refused to deny that he had called Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy “batshit."
He said he "did not remember" using the expletive to describe the Government's flagship “stop the boats” initiative.
Who accused James Cleverly?
The Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham accused Mr Cleverly of using the slur. He claimed Mr Cleverley had used it against his constituency in a response to a question on child poverty directed at the prime minister on Wednesday November 22.
Mr Cunningham asked Mr Sunak: “Why are 34 per cent of children in my constituency living in poverty?”
In audio of the interaction, Labour said the Conservative MP could be heard to say “because it is a shithole”.
Mr Cunningham used what is known as a point of order in the House of Commons to make the accusation, which is an appeal to the Chair or Speaker for clarification or for a ruling on a matter of procedure.
Chris McDonald, Labour's candidate for Stockton North, said: “This is a disgrace, but it lays bare what the Tories’ view of Teesside is. It also shows just what the Conservatives think of the reality facing families across the country.
“I am calling on local Tory councillor Niall Innes, Tory candidate for Stockton North, to condemn the remarks made in the House today.”
