Former Labour elected mayor Jamie Driscoll has announced he has joined the Green Party and described Britain as “a mess”.
The 55-year-old former North of Tyne Mayor left Labour two years ago after he was unsuccessful in becoming the party’s candidate for the Mayor of the North East.
He later set up a progressive left-wing organisation called Majority.
Mr Driscoll was also a director of MoU Operations, which handled donations to the new Your Party, founded by Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn, but he resigned from the company in October.
Last month, he said he was not a member of Your Party and he did not intend to join.
At an event in Elswick, Newcastle, the Green deputy leader Mothin Ali said the party now had 184,000 members.
Mr Driscoll told the Press Association he would stand in the city local elections and as an MP if selected in the future.
Asked why he had not joined Your Party, he said: “I wish them luck, but they are a way away from being ready.
“We have all-out elections in May (in Newcastle). In 2029, who knows what will happen?
“Labour have clearly collapsed. The shine is coming off Reform.
“Perhaps if the Green Party have 100 MPs in a hung parliament, that could make a real difference and we would be able to have another election straight away and they are going to need people with experience and confidence.”
Earlier, when he announced his move to the Greens, Mr Driscoll said: “Britain’s a mess.
“British politics is a mess and it’s not the fault of immigrants.
“Food prices, energy prices, housing prices are all too high.
“Our economy isn’t working for workers, it isn’t working for small businesses.
“It doesn’t have to be like this. I’m joining the Green Party because I see an organisation that’s serious about running our country in the long-term interests of all our people.”
Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said: “This is another example of the Green surge sweeping across the country.
“Jamie is a well-known political figure with a proven track record of delivering real change to people’s lives.
“People are looking for bold politics that offers hope rather than fear, and solutions rather than division.”
The Green Party hopes to make gains in Newcastle at the local elections in May, when all 78 seats will be contested.
The council is currently under no overall control, with Labour being the biggest party.
