A ROW over job losses led one Mersey MP to make what most politicians consider a fatal mistake – clashing with Peter Mandelson.

Claire Curtis-Thomas, intervened in the Commons on Wednesday to accuse Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, of breaking a promise to meet her to discuss a threat to firms in her Crosby constituency.

The Labour backbencher – who said the threat stemmed from unpaid government bills – urged Gordon Brown to step in to order Lord Mandelson to meet her.

She told the prime minister: “It has meant my constituents have gone belly-up, even though they have done work for the government.”

But the Business Secretary hit back immediately, issuing a statement that accused Ms Claire Curtis-Thomas of having “got her facts wrong”.

It read: “Never, at any time, did Peter Mandelson say he would not see Claire Curtis-Thomas. He takes issues facing small businesses, very seriously.

“A meeting for next Monday was confirmed with her office this morning. It is disappointing she should have got her facts wrong in this way.”