Former Labour Mayor Jamie Driscoll Joins Green Party Amid Political Shift in Newcastle
Jamie Driscoll, the former Labour mayor of North of Tyne, has joined the Green Party, marking a significant political shift. Driscoll served five years as mayor, having been elected for Labour in 2019. He left Labour ahead of the 2024 North East mayoral election and stood as an independent, finishing second to Kim McGuinness while reportedly raising more than £150,000 for his campaign.
The Green Party's leader Zack Polanski hailed Driscoll's move as part of a Green surge. The Greens currently hold four councillor seats on Newcastle City Council after winning their first seats there last year. Driscoll previously founded his own party, Majority, and advocated for a progressive alliance aimed at increasing political influence in Newcastle. He had planned to stand for Majority in the Monument ward during the 2026 all-out elections.
Newcastle City Council is presently under no overall control, with Labour remaining the largest party. Driscoll, a former Newcastle councillor, was involved in the Your Party controversy as a director of MoU Operations Ltd, which handled over £800,000 of supporters' donations. He and other directors resigned in October, defending their integrity while disputing allegations made against the party.
Driscoll criticized British politics as disordered and the economy as failing workers and small businesses. He affirmed his decision to join the Greens, citing their serious commitment to long-term national interests. Polanski described Driscoll as a well-known political figure with a proven track record of delivering real change.
