North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll will not be Labour candidate for North East Mayor role
The current North of Tyne Mayor released the information on Twitter
The North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll's revealed on social media he will NOT be Labour's candidate for the role of North East Mayor.
He had launched his campaign to selected earlier this year - Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, has also expressed her interest in standing for the position.
On Twitter today, Mr Driscoll said;
"I’ve been barred from standing as North East Mayor by UK Labour. No explanation has been given. I'm proud to have created thousands of jobs, fought child poverty, built affordable homes and delivered our Green New Deal. I believe in democracy. Share if you do too. More to follow."
In a statement from Labour they say;
“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 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.
"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.”