Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and his Greater Manchester counterpart Andy Burnham have hit out at the Labour Party over its decision to block a fellow northern mayor from standing for election again.
The north west leaders are unhappy with Labour's decision to block Jamie Driscoll, the North Tyne mayor, from standing again and have demanded that the party allows him to appeal the decision to keep him off the longlist for the new north-east region.
It is understood the decision to block Mr Driscoll from the longlist came after he appeared on stage with film director Ken Loach. Mr Driscoll described the move by Labour as "arbitrary and capricious".
