Labour excludes ‘last Corbynista in power’ from North East mayor contest

Party factionalism blamed for decision not to include North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll from mayoral longlist

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.