Labour’s Driscoll bats away Tory MP’s jibes
MAYORAL CANDIDATE SNAPS BACK BY OUTLINING POLICIES
Polictical editor LABOUR’S North of Tyne mayoral candidate Jamie Driscoll has hit back after Conservatives called him “a great danger” to the North East.
Voters in Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle go to the polls on May 2 to elect the first North of Tyne Mayor.
And the battle appears to have begun in earnest after Jake Berry, the Conservative Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, took a pop at Coun Driscoll, the Labour candidate.
Mr Berry said: “A great danger for continuing growth in the North East of England is the unfortunate selection of the Momentum, hard-left candidate for the Newcastle and North of Tyne election.”
He claimed Coun Driscoll was inspired by former London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Derek Hatton, the former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council when the council descended into chaos in the 1980s.
He was answering a question in the House of Commons about funding for public services in Newcastle.
Coun Driscoll beat Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes to win the right to become Labour’s candidate.
The Teesside-born 48-year-old was backed by Momentum, a group loyal to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Responding to Mr Berry’s claims, Coun Driscoll said: “I’m fighting this election on policies, not schoolyard name calling.
“We need practical policies like my plan to build houses that people can actually afford. I’ll create jobs and boost our local businesses by making spending decisions favour small businesses to provide secure work.
“I’ll create community hubs to regenerate our rural areas, bringing adult education and skills training to where people need it, and creating start-up business incubators.
“The Tories destroyed the industrial economy of our region before, and now their cuts are dangerously weakening our public services and infrastructure.
“We need a Labour mayor who understands industry and how to bring prosperity we can all be part of.”
Conservatives have not yet chosen their candidate, but expect to make a decision on March 14.
While Labour are the favourites to win, the Tories believe they are in with a chance and Labour’s decision to pick Coun Driscoll could backfire.
Also confirmed as entrants to the contest are Liberal Democrat John Appleby and independent John McCabe.