FIVE Labour councillors in north-east England have resigned from the party over its banning of North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll from standing for re-election — and more are expected to follow suit.

Three were members of North Tyneside Council and the others sat on Northumberland County Council.

Two councillors told the Morning Star that the ban was the “last straw” after years of “appalling treatment” by the Labour Party. They vowed to campaign for Mr Driscoll when he stands as an independent socialist in next May’s election for the head of the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority.

North Tyneside Councillor Gary Madden wrote in his resignation letter: “I have seen friends and family treated appallingly. 

“I have been a Labour Party member for decades and it has always been my party. 

“Even if I didn’t agree with the leader of the party, I still campaigned for the party. I can’t do that any more. 

“The party was a broad church that allowed for a range of views. A party of fairness, a party of equality, a safe place for my political views. 

“Unfortunately, this once safe place no longer feels like home. 

“The recent excluding of Jamie Driscoll from the long list [of candidates] was the final straw for me.”

He told the Morning Star: “I am going to campaign for Jamie, absolutely.”

Cllr Cath Davis told the Star that she had resigned “for my own health” after suffering repeated disciplinary action and suspension for simply “liking” a tweet on a newspaper article interviewing actress Maxine Peake.

“When they blocked Jamie, it was the last straw,” she said. “I thought: ‘What is the point of being here when I don’t have a voice. Everything is controlled.”

In her resignation letter, she wrote: “I am deeply concerned by the lack of democracy in the Labour Party. 

“The recent blocking of Jamie Driscoll as a Labour candidate for North East mayor of the combined authority I find unacceptable and a step too far.”

She too vowed to campaign for Mr Driscoll.

Since the North of Tyne mayor was excluded from standing for Labour there have been several rowdy constituency party meetings, walkouts and refusals by affiliated unions to take part in the selection process.

A fundraising appeal for his election campaign has received more than £100,000, less than a week after being launched with a target of £25,000.