Another election needed as withdrawn candidate wins Wiltshire PCC vote
Election rerun will cost around £1m
Last updated 11th May 2021
Conservative candidate Jonathon Seed has been announced as the winner of the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Swindon and Wiltshire, which means we currently have no new PCC.
Mr Seed was 'disbarred' by the party on Sunday (9th May) due to a 30 year old driving conviction which made him ineligible for the post.
He insisted he had declared his conviction in his application to the role which he then withdrew.
However, as votes had already been cast, the count had to go ahead as normal.
The Conservative candidate won the election, beating Mike Rees, Liz Webster, Junab Ali, Julian Malins and Brig Oubridge.
He was unable to get 50% of votes in the first round so the top two, Seed and Liberal Democrat Liz Webster, went through to the second preference round.
It was then confirmed Mr Seed won the election with a total of 100,003 votes.
In a statement, runner-up Liz Webster said:
"Jonathon Seed has treated Wiltshire and Swindon residents with total contempt. He has betrayed their trust, wasted their time and a vast amount of public money.
"Re-running this election will cost tax payers £1.4 million, require residents to go to vote again and deny our tired elections staff their well deserved break. All of that is an absolute disgrace.
"I am ready to fight again to be a powerful voice for the victims of crime, champion our dedicated police officers and staff, and to take the action needed to make our communities safer and bring law breakers to justice".
We have approached Mr Seed for a response.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
There will now need to be another election to pick an eligible candidate which will cost more than £1m, this will be funded by central government.
Returning officer Terence Herbert is seeking legal advice on the process.
An acting PCC will be appointed in the meantime.
POLICING UNAFFECTED
Wiltshire Police stress that whilst we have no PCC in post policing in the county won't be affected.
We will bring you the latest information on the new election when we have it on our news pages.