Former Labour Mayor Jamie Driscoll Campaigns for Greens in Newcastle Council Battle
Jamie Driscoll, the former Labour mayor for North of Tyne, is now canvassing for the Green party in Newcastle's central Monument ward, braving cold weather with a dozen supporters. Driscoll, one of the Greens' highest-profile recruits, is standing for Newcastle City Council in a ward where the party hopes to make significant gains.
Disillusioned Labour Voters Shift to Greens
The campaign has attracted several former Labour members who feel disillusioned with Keir Starmer's leadership. Maysie Sharp, a 75-year-old retired stilt walker, said she joined the Greens because "people need hope" and cited concerns about Gaza policies. Richie Barlow, 44, called Starmer "basically a red Tory" who has abandoned his promises.
Driscoll himself joined Labour at age 15 in 1985 but was blocked from being the party's candidate for the North East mayoralty. After standing as an independent in 2024 and winning 28% of the vote, he joined the Greens in December last year.
The Anti-Reform Dilemma
With Reform UK also competing in the north-east, the Greens are positioning themselves as the only party that can keep Reform out. This creates a dilemma for left-leaning, anti-Reform voters. During canvassing, 77-year-old retired probation officer Maureen Gilmore expressed her conflict, having been "solid Labour" but worried about Reform's potential damage.
Driscoll told her: "It's Green v Reform in Newcastle now," convincing her to vote Green. He later added to Gilmore: "[Labour] deserted you, Maureen. You haven't deserted them."
Campaign Momentum in Leafy Newcastle Streets
The campaigning took place in Newcastle's leafier areas, where many once-Labour-voting residents indicated they would vote Green. One young woman assured Driscoll she and her pomeranian Teddy would support the Greens. A middle-aged man was undecided between Lib Dems and Greens but leaned Lib Dem on defense issues.
Driscoll, whose father was a tank driver and brother served in the Royal Navy, argued that "the current defense system is there to serve defense contractors rather than the needs of the service personnel." Only one resident supported Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain party, claiming Reform was "too leftwing."
Driscoll's Political Journey and Current Stance
A former engineer, software developer, martial arts instructor, and nightclub bouncer, Driscoll has never been tribal despite being called a Corbynista. He remembers when Labour tolerated diverse views, citing Robin Cook and Clare Short resigning over the Iraq war. After his mayoral term, he was blocked from Labour's mayoral candidacy, reportedly for sharing a platform with film director Ken Loach.
Driscoll then founded the social movement Majority before briefly joining Your Party with Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. Now with the Greens, he believes the party is rising and must prove it can govern effectively. He describes the UK as "incredibly unstable" with an economic system failing most people and public finances benefiting billionaires.
Political Landscape and Labour's Response
Driscoll believes Labour is "mortally wounded" while Reform has "grown like a mushroom and they are collapsing as well." A Labour spokesperson dismissed Driscoll as a "political liability." When asked how it feels to leave Labour, Driscoll replied: "It's nice to walk into a room and not worry about who's going to stab you in the back."
The north-east council elections in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, and South Tyneside on 7 May could be pivotal for Starmer. After Labour's Hartlepool byelection loss in 2021 nearly caused him to quit, heavy losses here might increase pressure for more than just considering stepping down.
