A LABOUR mayor has branded the party “anti-democratic” for blocking his candidacy for the inaugural North East mayoral election after he shared a platform with acclaimed film-maker Ken Loach.

North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said he had been barred from running for promoting socialist views, urging Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the “shocking” decision. 

He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday “for members not to be allowed the choice of putting me forward for the Labour representative is, frankly, shocking.

“I’ve had so much support from right across the political spectrum so what I want is for Keir and the Labour Party to do nothing more than give members the choice of choosing me as their candidate.”

He added: “I really do think just let members choose who they want as their candidates, that’s how democracy works … in a two-party system, if you’re going to ban people who are promoting socialist views from participating in that, that is really quite anti-democratic.”

Mr Driscoll said that Labour’s national executive committee panel had told him that “because you spoke to Ken Loach, that may cause us electoral damage in future.”

He said he contested this view, explaining that he had been asked to appear on stage with Mr Loach in March to have a conversation about his films, including those produced in north-east England.

Mr Loach, whose films are regarded as landmarks of social realism, said anti-semitism is being used to purge Labour of politicians on the left, and that keeping Mr Driscoll off the longlist published on Friday because they shared a platform was “dishonest” and the “lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said Labour “remains intent on only selecting nodding heads,” and with “a pattern of behaviour to literally take out any MP or mayor who backs key manifesto demands on the renationalisation of energy, action on rampant profiteering and investment in UK steel.”

“These actions by Labour are a major mistake and have serious consequences," she said.

Mr Loach was expelled from Labour in 2021 during what he called at the time a “purge” of Jeremy Corbyn allies.

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he would “strongly disagree,” when asked if Sir Keir is trying to purge the left of the party.