Labour blocks sitting left-wing mayor Jamie Driscoll from standing for brand new North East position

Labour has blocked a sitting mayor from standing for a brand new position within the North East in a transfer that has reawakened divisions within the occasion.

Jamie Driscoll, the serving North of Tyne mayor, revealed on social media that he had been “barred” from operating because the Labour candidate to contest the North East mayoralty and that “no explanation has been given”.

Mr Driscoll, who has been described because the “last Corbynista in power, was not included on a longlist to be the next North East mayor – a role that was created as part of a £1.4bn devolution deal for the region.

The decision was immediately criticised by MPs on the left, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who branded the news “staggering”.

Responding to a tweet from Mr Driscoll, Mr McDonnell wrote: “To refuse to permit a serving mayor onto even a variety lengthy checklist demonstrates that factionalism within the occasion is totally uncontrolled…There will be no different motive for excluding him.”

Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South, mentioned he was “shocked by such sectarian behaviour”.

A senior supply on the Labour left instructed Sky News: “Jamie has said on TV that he hopes the party will reverse this decision, but whether the party machinery will listen is a different matter. Union general secretaries, senior MPs, and mayors are all outraged at this, and wondering who will be next.”

Sky News understands Mr Driscoll’s candidacy was refused as a result of he not too long ago appeared at an occasion with the movie director Ken Loach, who was expelled from the party in 2021 for claiming there had been a “purge” and “witch hunt” of Jeremy Corbyn supporters below Sir Keir Starmer’s management.

At the time of the occasion in March, Mr Driscoll mentioned: “I spoke with Ken Loach as part of the Live Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Mr Loach has chosen the North East as a location for his most recent film ‘The Old Oak’ as well as his previous films, Sorry We Missed You and I, Daniel Blake. During the event, we participated in a lively and engaging discussion about his critically acclaimed films, work and illustrious career.”

Mr Driscoll additionally mentioned he shared a platform with Mr Loach as a result of he had simply completed filming within the North East and each have been invited to an occasion, which the viewers “loved”.

A Labour supply instructed Sky News: “I don’t see how he [Mr Driscoll] can have expected to be a candidate after appearing with Ken Loach. It would have made a mockery of all Keir’s commitments on anti-Semitism.”

Mr Driscoll’s blocking is simply the newest controversy surrounding the occasion’s course of for choosing candidates for the subsequent election.

Sky News revealed in March that candidates who’re blocked from standing for the occasion will be given the right to appeal if their bid to grow to be an MP is rejected.

The occasion launched the system after it confronted accusations of fixing parliamentary alternatives for candidates who’re most popular by the management whereas utilizing “due diligence” checks to bar others for political causes – a cost the occasion has denied.

Read extra:
Labour vows to lower monthly student loan repayments
Who is the Labour MP at the centre of sexual harassment allegations?

In March, Labour’s ruling physique, the National Executive Committee (NEC), voted to block Jeremy Corbyn from being endorsed because the candidate for his present seat of Islington North in a long-running dispute over anti-Semitism.

Mr Corbyn branded the choice “disgraceful” and a “shameful attack on party democracy, party members and natural justice”. He has since hinted he might stand as an impartial in his seat, which he has represented since 1983.

A Labour Party spokesperson mentioned: “The North East mayoralty is a unique opportunity for the people of the North East to take more control over the way our region is governed, with powers over housing, education, skills, transport and so much more.

“The Labour Party holds its candidates to a really excessive commonplace. During this course of, some candidates didn’t meet the edge required to proceed to the longlist stage. We don’t touch upon particular person purposes.

“Local members now have a fantastic longlist of candidates from which they will choose the Labour Party’s candidate to be the very first North East mayor.”