In a significant political shift, former Labour metro mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, has announced he is joining the Green Party. The move deals another blow to Sir Keir Starmer's Labour and signals growing momentum for the Greens ahead of next year's local elections.
A Pattern of Defections from Labour
Driscoll's defection comes just two days after five Labour councillors in the London borough of Brent crossed the floor to join the Greens. Those councillors expressed disillusionment with Labour's direction under its current leadership. Similarly, Driscoll's relationship with Labour fractured in 2023 when the party blocked him from standing for re-election as mayor.
He subsequently ran as an independent in the 2024 mayoral contest, finishing second to Labour's candidate, Kim McGuinness. Following his departure from Labour, Driscoll was involved in efforts to establish a new left-wing party, which later became known as Your Party, alongside figures like former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He has since ended his involvement with that project.
Driscoll's Critique of the Political Status Quo
Announcing his move, Driscoll delivered a sharp critique of the current state of Britain. "Britain's a mess. British politics is a mess and it's not the fault of immigrants," he stated. He highlighted soaring costs of living, stating: "Food prices, energy prices, housing prices are all too high. Our economy isn't working for workers, it isn't working for small businesses. It doesn't have to be like this."
He explained his decision to join the Greens, saying he saw "an organisation that's serious about running our country in the long-term interests of all our people." Driscoll has joined the party in Newcastle, a key target area where the Greens aim to make gains in the local elections across England in May 2025.
The Green Surge Gathers Pace
The Greens have been experiencing a notable rise in support since Zack Polanski won the leadership race for the party in England and Wales in September. This has brought renewed energy to their campaigning, particularly on social media, and been reflected in increased membership and improved polling numbers.
While defections from the Conservatives to Reform UK have garnered significant attention, a steady stream of Labour representatives at the local level are now switching allegiance to the Greens. Labour responded to the Brent defections by noting the councillors had not been reselected to stand for the party next May.
Welcoming Driscoll, Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski called it "another example of the Green surge sweeping across the country." He praised Driscoll's track record and stated: "People are looking for bold politics that offers hope rather than fear, and solutions rather than division."
The Greens currently hold four seats on Newcastle City Council, compared to Labour's 29, but are aiming to significantly increase their representation in the upcoming vote.
