Iain Duncan Smith has continued a difficult week by upsetting football supporters in the North East.

In a speech to business leaders in Washington, Sunderland, on Thursday the Conservative leader made a gaffe by praising Newcastle United.

Seeking to build empathy with his audience, Duncan Smith praising Sir Bobby Robson and his Newcastle team who beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"It is a great pleasure to be here in Newcastle, as ever a privilege to be among you," he said.

Newcastle are currently third place in the Premiership but sadly most of the audience were fans of regional rivals Sunderland, who are currently fighting relegation at the other end of the league.

Local pride is something avid Tottenham Hotspur supporter Duncan Smith - who has a season ticket - should have understood.

Peter Deakin, editor of Sunderland fanzine said Sex and Chocolate, said the Tory leader had scored an own goal.

"Washington is about 50-50 for Newcastle and Sunderland fans, so it seems he is going around the country alienating half the people wherever he goes," he said.

Newcastle had previously caused embarrassment to the prime minister, who claims to be a supporter.

Tony Blair was famously filmed in 1996 playing "keepy-up" with the team's former star and manager Kevin Keegan.

Blair claimed to have sat in the Gallowgate end at Newcastle watching centre forward Jackie Milburn, but it was later revealed that the stand had no seats at the time and Milburn had left the club when the prime minister was four years old.