FIVE Labour councillors in north-east England have resigned from the party over its banning of North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll from standing for re-election — and more are expected to follow suit.
Three were members of North Tyneside Council and the others sat on Northumberland County Council.
Two councillors told the Morning Star that the ban was the “last straw” after years of “appalling treatment” by the Labour Party. They vowed to campaign for Mr Driscoll when he stands as an independent socialist in next May’s election for the head of the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority.
ANYA COOK reports from a Majority conference in Newcastle last weekend featuring Jamie Driscoll and Zarah Sultana
ANYA COOK reports from the Newcastle citizens’ assembly, where over 240 people gathered to create a people’s manifesto ahead of next year’s local elections – part of former mayor Jamie Driscoll’s Majority movement
We’ll be developing a people’s manifesto for the 2026 local elections. We’ll network, learn, inspire and support each other and chart a future path for socialist politics, writes JAMIE DRISCOLL
Ben Chacko talks to ALAN MARDGHUM of the Durham Miners Association about Reform UK‘s dangerous inroads into Durham’s long-standing Labour county council; why he cancelled his party membership; and the political class’s disconnect from working people



