Labour is embroiled in a fresh “factionalism” row after a leftwing regional mayor was blocked from being the party’s candidate to contest the North East mayoralty. Jamie Driscoll, the serving mayor for the North of Tyne – an area that includes Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland – said on Friday that he had been “barred” from running for the new mayoral authority without explanation. The former shadow chancellor John McDonnell blamed “out of control” factionalism in Keir Starmer’s Labour party for the decision to exclude the supporter of the former leader Jeremy Corbyn. Driscoll, variously described in the media since his election in 2019 as the “last Corbynista in power” – a label he has tried to shake off – was omitted from a longlist that includes the Northumbria police and crime commissioner, Kim McGuinness. The former MEP Paul Brannen and Newcastle’s city councillor, Nicu Ion, also feature on the list. McDonnell said omitting Driscoll from the list despite him being “widely credited with doing a great job” was “staggering news”, adding: “To refuse to allow a serving mayor on to even a selection long list demonstrates that factionalism in the party is completely out of control. “There can be no other motive for excluding him.”
The decision came after Starmer blocked Corbyn from standing for the party in Islington North at the next general election. Labour said the party 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,” a statement said. “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 were among those to express support for Driscoll. Former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke said he felt “very sorry” for the mayor he described as “knowledgable, passionate about the NE and refreshingly non-partisan”. Nadhim Zahawi said having worked with Driscoll while he was vaccines minister, Driscoll “was always professional and didn’t play politics, just wanted to protect the people he represents”. The former chancellor added: “Sorry to hear this Jamie. You are a good man. Stay strong.” Driscoll has found himself at odds with the party leadership at times. In March, he appeared on stage with the leftwing film director Ken Loach, who was expelled from the party in 2021 over comments he made about antisemitism. Driscoll’s appearance was called “hugely upsetting” by the Jewish Labour Movement. A senior Labour source reportedly told the PA news agency that Driscoll’s appearance at the event with Loach and “then refusing to apologise” was “clearly incompatible with our promise to have zero tolerance of antisemitism”.