FORMER Labour North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll has joined the Green Party, describing Britain as “a mess.”

He is the latest high-profile catch for the insurgent Greens, with leader Zack Polanski calling the move “another example of the Green surge sweeping across the country.”

Mr Driscoll stood as an independent for the wider north-eastern mayoralty after being blocked from the Labour candidacy by Keir Starmer, coming a strong second with 28 per cent of the vote.

His move is a blow to Your Party, with which he was initially heavily involved. He subsequently became alienated from the project by its unending divisions and factionalism. 

Mr Driscoll also founded his own left-wing local party called Majority, the fate of which is now uncertain.

Announcing his move, Mr Driscoll said: “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.”

And Mr Polanski said: “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 offer hope rather than fear, and solutions rather than division.”

The Greens are hoping that Mr Driscoll’s move will help in their bid to secure a majority on Newcastle City Council, currently under no overall control, in next year’s election.