Commissioner elections branded unfair

Ann Barnes, who is running as an independent for the post of Police and Crime commissioner for Kent, has handed a letter into Number Ten claiming November's elections will be unfair.

She says independent candidates, who don't have the financial backing of a big political party are effectively being discriminated against.

It's because the government have decided no candidates will be entitled to free leaflet mailshots during the campaign - unlike at general election time.

She says the government are being hypocritical when they say they want strong, independent candidates to stand - but then deny them the chance to communicate with all the voters.

The government say a mailshot would be too expensive, and voters can get information from the home office website.