Labour is facing a backlash after a sitting left-wing Mayor was blocked from standing for the party in a new role representing the North East.
Jamie Driscoll, The North of Tyne Mayor since 2019, described the decision not to allow him to run in the mayoralty contest as "arbitrary and capricious".
A senior Labour source said the move was linked to an on-stage appearance with director Ken Loach, who was expelled from the party in 2021.
