Jamie Driscoll for Independent North East Mayor

British politics is a mess. That’s why I’m running to be the Independent North East Mayor. I’ve been North of Tyne Mayor for five years and have been praised across politics for putting people ahead of party politics, and getting the job done. The election is 2nd May 2024. But without a party machine or big donors, I need your help.

All funds raised will go to Jamie Driscoll's official Campaign Fund, to be used for his North East Mayoral election campaign in 2024 in accordance with Electoral Commission rules.

If you donate £50 or more after the 26th March, we will send you a message asking to confirm you are on the electoral roll. This is to comply with election law, so we can accept your donation. We will keep your information confidential. It will not be published on GoFundMe.

Why are you running as an Independent?

Successive governments – red, blue, and yellow – have let the North East down. So in 2019 I made an election promise – to negotiate a new devolution deal. To wrestle more money and powers from Westminster and put it back in our hands.

I’m currently the North of Tyne Metro Mayor. Last year I secured us the best funded devolution deal in the country, over an expanded geography, bringing in the South of Tyne area. It’s over £6 billion for our region. I did it by working cross-party. We have to move beyond political game playing.

I kept my promise. I want you to re-elect me to squeeze every penny of value out of our £6 billion budget.

Despite a track record of creating jobs, tackling the climate emergency, and helping kids in poverty, London Labour HQ blocked me from standing again, so they could install their favoured factional candidate. People in the North East were denied the chance to vote for their choice of candidate. They even admitted I was competent and had a perfect disciplinary record.

The North East has been neglected for decades by political parties of all colours, and it's not alone. We have to look after ourselves. I don’t answer to any party. The people are my Chief Whip.

Why do you need more money?

Our initial fundraiser raised an amazing amount of money. Thank you so much if you were one of the people who donated to our initial fundraiser. When we set that up, we guesstimated our campaign expenses.

We've held public meetings right across the region. We've delivered 500,000 leaflets and doubled our social media following. But the scale of this election is huge. 110 miles from Berwick to Barnard Castle. 2 million people. 1.5 million voters. 880,000 households. It currently covers 22 constituencies. As an independent I won’t have a national press office behind me, or big money donors like Labour or the Conservatives. We'll need to get the message out to a lot of people. That’s going to take more leaflets and more advertising.

So I'm asking once again for your help. Donate whatever you can. I promise that every pound will be spent carefully to win this campaign. Together we can beat the establishment and create a brighter future.

What have you done so far?

Since 2019 I’ve delivered on my promises, by:

What are your politics?

My politics are simple – Britain should be run in the interests of the people who do the work. Including those unable to work and retired from a lifetime of work. It's not left-wing. It's not right-wing. It's common sense. My Dad was a tank driver and ICI shift worker. My Mum was a trade unionist who set up a women’s refuge.

I left school at 16 and later qualified as an engineer. I know how to fix broken systems. It’s what I do. If you can spare a few quid to help me put the people before profit and party, it would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jamie

Election Rules

The Electoral Commission requires that any donations £50 or over given after 26 March 2024 can only be made by people on the electoral register in the United Kingdom. We will therefore contact you asking you to confirm your full name, post code and whether you are on the electoral register in the UK. If we do not receive a reply, we will be unable to keep the funds. If you donate over £1,500 after 26 March 2024, it will need to be declared to the Electoral Commission.

We will respect your privacy if you wish to donate in private. If you want to donate over £1,500, please get in touch because certain Electoral Commission rules apply. Go Fund Me doesn't allow us to share email addresses. But contact details are on our website https://jamiedriscoll.co.uk/contact/

Promoted by Nicholas Arnold on behalf of Jamie Driscoll, both of 12, Rothwell Rd, NE3 1TY.