Education Secretary Michael Gove insulted hundreds of hard-working teachers in Bradford when he described education in the city as “appalling” in a Parliamentary debate, according to a leading councillor.

Mr Gove made the comments on Monday after Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe grilled him over his handling of the controversy regarding Kings Science Academy in Lidget Green.

Last month the Department for Education released a report that revealed apparent fraud at the school, which opened in 2011.

The report was written in May, but only made public over five months later and revealed that some invoices had been fabricated and large amounts of funding was unaccounted for.

West Yorkshire Police are now carrying out a criminal investigation.

Mr Sutcliffe had put Mr Gove on the spot for the first time on Monday, asking what he would do about the “disaster” at the school.

Mr Gove responded by saying there were questions that needed to be answered, but then went on to criticise the Labour-led council, saying: “The quality of education in Bradford has, for many years, been appalling. They (Labour) are prepared to turn a blind eye consistently to Labour local authorities that fail.”

Councillor Ralph Berry, the executive member for children’s services at Bradford Council, said he had been flooded with complaints from teachers who read about Mr Gove’s response.

Mr Berry said: “I’m saddened, disappointed and thoroughly insulted.

“Standards are rising significantly and we take action when we are allowed to deal with schools that aren’t performing.

“We continue to put additional resources into school improvements and in attempts to raise standards.

“I don’t recognise what he is saying. A lot of head teachers who take offence at what he has said have contacted me about this. I can take being insulted by Michael Gove any day of the week, but he has insulted the hundreds of teachers in our schools.”

Mr Sutcliffe said: “There have been huge cuts to Bradford Council over the past few years but the council has worked hard to improve education standards.

“It is an unfortunate criticism he made to deflect the problems he is causing. I wasn’t attacking all free schools, just raising the goings-on at Kings.

“What he came back with was outrageous. He tried to turn a serious situation into a game of political football.”

Along with fellow Bradford MPs George Galloway (Respect) and David Ward (Lib Dem), Mr Sutcliffe pledged not to let the issue be brushed under the carpet. “I will push for a debate to get all these issues out in the open,” he said.

Pam Milner, Bradford spokesman for teaching union NASUWT, said: “Michael Gove has a bad habit of opening his mouth and putting his foot in it.

“He was probably referring to times Bradford has been close to the bottom of league tables. He should have said that and that would be stating fact, but he didn’t word it that way. He needs lessons in statesmanship.

“If he realised what he was saying and doesn’t regret it, then he shouldn’t be in the job he is in. What he said was beyond the pale.

“He condemns Bradford, but the buck stops with him, he is Education Secretary.”

e-mail: chris.young@telegraphandargus.co.uk