SOUTH Thanet-MP Stephen Ladyman has accused rival MP Roger Gale of trying to drag local business people into a political row.

Mr Gale wrote to local businesses noting that the Prime Minister had sent letters to the Romanian Government on behalf of the Mittal Steel Company and he offered to see if Tony Blair would do the same for local companies.

Dr Ladyman said: "It was a shabby attempt to score political points by trying to drag local businesses into the political row over Mittal.

Gale's letter implied that Mittal was receiving support not available to other companies and he offered to make the PM's office aware if local companies could benefit from the same treatment.

"What he doesn't realise is that businesses in my constituency already receive help from the DTI and the Foreign Office whenever they have problems with exports because I regularly facilitate such help."

The Labour MP said he visited local businesses regularly. "I encourage all business people of all political persuasions to approach me if they have a problem and think the government can or should help," he said.

"When politicians try to pull businesses into cheap stunts they do neither politics nor business any favours," he said. "That is why I don't publicise the efforts I make for individual businesses and why I so strongly object to Mr Gale writing silly letters like this to businesses in my constituency."