A war of words has broken out between Stoke North MP Jonathan Gullis and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Mr Gullis wrote to Mr Burnham today (Tuesday 30th August) demanding an explanation for comments the Manchester mayor made during breakfast tv interviews about rail workers on strike.

Mr Burnham told Sky News' Kay Burley that Mr Gullis had described railway workers as greedy in a tv interview – a claim Mr Gullis denies.

Mr Gullis said in his letter: "This is completely untrue. I have never used the word 'greedy' in any interview regarding strikes on the railways."

Mr Gullis conceded that he was not known for being complimentary of unions, however, and used his open letter to Mr Burnham as an opportunity to launch a broadside against RMT president Alex Gordon in which he accused the union boss of pushing Putin's lies.

The Stoke North MP said: "Had you said I have been very vocally critical of the militant union barons of the RMT, such as RMT president Alex Gordon, who has pushed Putin's lies about Ukraine, claiming it is 'a failed state held to ransom by neo-Nazis', I would have accepted that."

Mr Gullis called on Mr Burnham to withdraw the comments made on Sky News and Good Morning Britain, and said: "Rather than making inaccurate cheap digs at me, I suggest you spend time focusing on your day job."

He said he would be writing to bosses at both programmes to raise the issue.

Mr Burnham chose to hit back at Mr Gullis, and described him as a bit sensitive in light of comments he makes about his political rivals.

A spokesperson for the mayor said: "Mr Gullis is good at giving it out but clearly a bit sensitive when the challenge comes back the other way.

"By reading disputed salary figures out on air and criticising the people taking action he is clearly saying that workers are being too greedy."