SIR KEIR STARMER is facing a rebellion by Labour members and trade unions in north-east England following the banning of North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll from standing for re-election.

The party has instead imposed two potential candidates on members of the 22 constituency parties in North Tyneside.

Only half of them have now selected one of the candidates.

Some voted not to make a selection, while some did not even meet.

Individual party members wore masks of Mr Driscoll’s face at an online selection meeting.

Five Labour-affiliated trade unions did not vote. Nor did two affiliated socialist organisations.

Eight unions who are not even affiliated to Labour voiced “outrage” at Mr Driscoll’s exclusion, saying it was undemocratic.

Mr Driscoll said in his newsletter to party members: “The North East Mayoral selection process has not been smooth sailing for Labour.

“Of the [constituencies] that did nominate, there were walkouts and threats of disciplinary action for even mentioning Jamie Driscoll.”

A meeting of Mr Driscoll’s supporters at Newcastle’s Irish Centre was so packed that he reported: “As one attendee said: we’re going to need a bigger room!”

Following the meeting, Mr Driscoll said: “There was a real buzz in the room and a feel that local democracy is worth fighting for.”

There appears to be no mystery surrounding the reason Mr Driscoll was not included on the short list of potential mayoral candidates by Labour’s national executive committee, though he was not given an official reason.

Anonymous Labour sources say it was because he took part in a discussion with film director Ken Loach at a gathering in Newcastle.

Mr Loach, who was last month among 50 artists welcomed by the Pope to the Vatican and described as “prophets” challenging unjust societies, was expelled by Labour in 2021.

The affiliated unions who chose not to vote included Unite, Communication Workers’ Union, Fire Brigades Union, rail staff union TSSA and train drivers union Aslef.

The socialist organisations who did not vote were the Socialist Health Association and the Socialist Educational Association.

Mr Driscoll said: “If the CLPs and affiliates were taken together, there were more who decided not to vote than voted.

“Many members are telling me that they feel the shortlist of two has no mandate."

Support from non-affiliated unions came from leaders and officials of the National Education Union, teachers’ union NASUWT, University and College Union, food workers’ union BFAWU, lorry drivers’ union URTU, Public and Commercial Services union, Prison Officers Association and the National Union of Journalists, whom Mr Driscoll said were “outraged at the lack of democracy.”