TSSA statement – Jamie Driscoll

Transport and travel union TSSA is calling for the Labour Party to either reverse or fully account for its decision to exclude Jamie Driscoll from the North East mayoralty selection process.  

Driscoll is the current mayor for the North of Tyne area but has been told by the party he cannot contest the new larger North East combined authority covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham.   

TSSA supported Driscoll when he ran to be North of Tyne Mayor and believes Labour must reinstate Driscoll as a potential candidate or fully account for its decision to exclude him, and do so according to the party rulebook.   

Commenting, Nicola Jukes, TSSA’s representative on Labour’s ruling National Executive, said: “There’s no doubt that Jamie Driscoll has done a superb job as North of Tyne Mayor since 2019, building communities, advocating for affordable homes and a publicly run green transport network among much else.  

“He has displayed Labour values in everything he does and what we need without delay is full transparency from Labour because we are in the bizarre situation where a highly respected sitting mayor has been barred from being a candidate in the region he already represents.    

“Jamie has been excluded without any real explanation. This is an affront to Labour’s democracy and either the party explains its decision in full or reverses it and allows Jamie to proceed in the selection process.”