PCC record-low turnout inquiry
A post-mortem was under way today into the first elections for police commissioners in England and Wales after the poll was marred by a record-low turnout. A detailed inquiry has been ordered by the Electoral Commission.
Former police officer wins Gwent PCC election
Former police officer Ian Johnston has stopped Labour taking Gwent in the police and crime commissioner elections.
Mr Johnston beat Labour's Hamish Sandison in the final round of counting and became Wales's second independent candidate to win in the polls.
Turnout across Gwent was 14.3% - and one of Newport's 100 polling stations had no voters at all yesterday.
Home Secretary 'disappointed' by PCC turnout
Home Secretary Theresa May insisted the Government had publicised the vote. She told the BBC:
I'm obviously disappointed in the turnout but these were first elections and first elections are always difficult.
I'm sure next time round we will see an increase in the turnout because next time round people will be used to the idea of police and crime commissioners, they'll have seen them in action and, of course, there will be an incumbent who will be challenged.
The Home Office, the Government did put out advertisements about the elections.
Advertisement
Former Labour MP elected as Greater Manchester PCC
Tony Lloyd has been elected as the new police & crime commissioner for Greater Manchester #MyPCC #PCC
From @ukhomeoffice on Twitter:Labour wins PCC election in Lancashire
Labour's Clive Grunshaw was voted the new commissioner for Lancashire following a second count.
He secured 79,790 votes against his opponent Tim Ashton (Conservative) who polled 73,262.
Independent candidate wins in Dorset
The Conservatives were dealt a blow in Dorset as independent candidate Martyn Underhill clinched the county's first police and crime commissioner role ahead of Tory representative Nick King.
'Slow start' for police elections admits Conservative Chairman
Grant Shapps, the Conservative Party Chairman, admitted police elections got off to a slow start, but he believed more people would vote next time round.
Advertisement
Cameron: Despite low turnout Commissioners 'will prove their worth'
Police ballot: Results declared so far
Elections for Police and Crime Commissioner took place in 41 areas of England and Wales. These are the results so far:
- WILTSHIRE: Angus MacPherson (Conservative)
- NORTHUMBRIA: Vera Baird (Labour)
- MERSEYSIDE: Jane Kennedy (Labour)
- DYFED-POWYS: Christopher Salmon (Conservative)
- NORTH YORKSHIRE: Julia Mulligan (Conservative)
- DURHAM: Ron Hogg (Labour)
Prime Minister defends PCC elections despite low turnout
David Cameron says the newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioners will have a mandate despite the low turnout, adding that they are "replacing organisations that weren't directly elected at all".
No votes at Welsh polling station
One polling station for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections has received no votes at all. While turnout for Wales's four police forces ranged from 14.3% to 17.1%, one polling station in Newport didn't receive a single ballot paper for the Gwent Police Commissioner.
Newport Council has declined to name the polling station.
