Serving Labour mayor blocked from working in ‘out of control factionalism’
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left-wing regional mayor has been blocked from being Labour’s candidate to contest the North East mayoralty, sparking recent allegations of “factionalism” throughout the occasion.
Jamie Driscoll had his candidacy blocked as a result of he appeared onstage at occasion with movie director and expelled Labour member Ken Loach, a senior occasion supply advised the PA news company.
The serving North of Tyne mayor stated on Friday that he had been “barred” from working for the brand new mayoral authority with out clarification.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell blamed “out of control” factionalism in Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party for the choice to exclude the supporter of former chief Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Driscoll, described because the “last Corbynista in power”, was omitted from a longlist together with rival Northumbria police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness.
Ex-MEP Paul Brannen and Newcastle metropolis councillor Nicu Ion additionally characteristic.
The Labour supply stated Mr Driscoll’s look on the occasion with Mr Loach and “then refusing to apologise” is “clearly incompatible with our promise to have zero tolerance of antisemitism”.
Mr Driscoll spoke with Mr Loach at Newcastle’s Live Theatre in March in an occasion the Jewish Labour Movement known as “hugely upsetting” for the Jewish neighborhood.
Mr Loach – celebrated for movies together with I, Daniel Blake – was expelled from Labour in 2021 throughout what he known as a “purge” of Corbyn allies.
Labour has by no means confirmed why Mr Loach was kicked out of the occasion, but it surely got here amid allegations of enjoying down antisemitism.
The director had claimed “exaggerated or false charges” of anti-Jewish racism had coincided with Mr Corbyn’s management, including: “Discredit his supporters and you weaken his leadership.”
Mr McDonnell stated omitting Mr Driscoll from the record regardless of him being “widely credited with doing a great job” was “staggering news”.
“To refuse to allow a serving mayor onto even a selection long list demonstrates that factionalism in the party is completely out of control,” he stated.
“There can be no other motive for excluding him.”
The determination got here within the wake of Sir Keir blocking Mr Corbyn from standing for the occasion in Islington North on the subsequent normal election.
Labour stated the occasion holds “candidates to a very high standard”.
“During this process, some applicants did not meet the threshold required to proceed to the longlist stage. We do not comment on individual applications,” an announcement stated.
“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.”
Senior Conservatives have been amongst these backing Mr Driscoll.
Former levelling-up secretary Simon Clarke stated he feels “very sorry” for the mayor he described as “knowledgeable, passionate about the NE and refreshingly non-partisan”.
Having labored with him as vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi stated Mr Driscoll “was always professional and didn’t play politics, just wanted to protect the people he represents”.
“Sorry to hear this Jamie. You are a good man. Stay strong,” the previous chancellor added.