Sir Keir Starmer is embroiled in a bitter row with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham after Labour HQ blocked a left-wing candidate from standing for election. Jamie Driscoll, the current North of Tyne mayor and described as the 'last Corbynista in power', was excluded from the longlist to run for the new expanded North East mayor role.
Mr Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram wrote a joint letter to Labour's National Executive Committee expressing 'concern' over the decision, calling it 'anti-democratic' and demanding a right of appeal. However, a senior Labour source hit back, telling Politico: 'Andy is fishing in the swamp for votes. The problem for him is, we've drained it.'
Mr Driscoll's exclusion is linked to his sharing a panel with filmmaker Ken Loach, who was expelled from Labour in 2021 amid efforts to root out anti-Semitism. Driscoll defended discussing Loach's films, saying banning people with socialist views from participating is 'really quite anti-democratic'. Unite, Labour's biggest union donor, warned of 'serious consequences' over the 'major mistake'.
