Left-wing Labour mayor not ruling out authorized motion over blocked candidacy
A left-leaning Labour mayor who has been blocked from working for one more position within the North East has refused to rule out taking authorized motion in opposition to the get together.
The Mayor of North of Tyne Jamie Driscoll, who has been described because the “last Corbynista in power”, was excluded from the longlist to run in the new expanded authority.
The transfer has prompted a backlash in opposition to the Labour management, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and his counterpart within the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, claiming it doesn’t appear “democratic, transparent and fair”.
Unite, the get together’s greatest union donor, has additionally warned of “serious consequences” over the “major mistake” of barring Mr Driscoll’s candidacy.
Mr Driscoll has spoken publicly in recent days to precise frustration and complain concerning the lack of an appeals course of.
Jamie Driscoll just lately revealed on social media that he had been
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme on Monday if he might take authorized motion if unable to contest the choice, he mentioned: “Obviously I’m taking advice on that. And I would absolutely prefer not to go down that route if it’s possible.”
He mentioned there’s a precedent for stopping choice processes earlier than restarting them.
“In 2019, when we went through this process of selection last time, the party stopped the process and restarted it again a month later, because they weren’t happy that any women had applied.
“All I actually need is to let the folks of the North East select who’s their mayor and never let London Labour select who’s their mayor.”
The resolution to dam Mr Driscoll has been linked to him sharing a panel with filmmaker Ken Loach, who was kicked out of Labour amid efforts to root out antisemitism from the get together.
Mr Loach, the director of socially important movies together with I, Daniel Blake, was expelled in 2021 throughout what he referred to as on the time a “purge” of Jeremy Corbyn’s allies.
Sir Keir Starmer (left) with Jamie Driscoll (proper)
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Asked about his panel look, Mr Driscoll mentioned: “I take part in lots of cultural events.
“This was an occasion organised in a neighborhood theatre as a part of their fiftieth birthday celebrations. The final three function movies that truly are set within the North East had been I, Daniel Blake, Sorry We Missed You, and presently popping out The Old Oak.
“Now Ken Loach is the director of those. So I did an event talking about films.
“And if speaking to somebody about movies, as a result of they might have controversial views elsewhere, is grounds for denying members the prospect to make their very own judgment on that, then I feel we have gone to fairly a darkish place certainly in relation to democracy.”
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Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, appearing on the same programme, said she could not comment as she did not know the details of the case.
“The Labour Party at all times has requirements for candidates and that is a matter for the National Executive Committee, not for the shadow cupboard,” she said.
“You would not anticipate me to touch upon particular person instances.”