Will Labour win North Tyneside mayoralty?

By William Green on Jun 4, 09 11:35 AM

IT will be "difficult, but not impossible" for Labour's North Tyneside elected mayor to be re-elected, a senior party chief has admitted.

Sir Jeremy Beecham, a member of Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), said John Harrison was an excellent mayor but warned lower turnout and a backlash sparked by the MPs' expenses scandal could affect all main party's fortunes in local and European elections this week.

But despite predictions of electoral disaster for Labour, Sir Jeremy rejected speculation that Gordon Brown could be forced to quit as Prime Minister to shore up support for the party.

Sir Jeremy, a councillor in Newcastle, said previous comparable elections had been held at general elections when turnout was always higher which benefitted Labour.

"I would not be surprised if we fall back on a lower turnout. Generally speaking, the higher the turnout the better it is for Labour. And in the present furore of expenses, Labour as the incumbent Government is taking more a rap for it.

"It is not going to be very good. On the other hand, there aren't that many seats at stake this time," said the Labour veteran.

He added Labour's elected mayor in North Tyneside, John Harrison, was facing the same issues.

"So it is going to be difficult for him, but I don't think it is impossible. He has been an extremely good mayor. If anybody is going to get back, it would be John," said Sir Jeremy.

On Gordon Brown's future, he added: "I don't myself detect much appetite to change the leader with less than a year to go before a general election not when we are in the midst of the these problems.

"And in the economic sphere, he is doing very well and a change in leadership isn't going to inspire confidence in the markets and elsewhere."

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