Top Lib-Dem won't stand in party colours for police job
A senior Westcountry Liberal Democrat has ruled himself out of standing to be the region's first elected police commissioner for his party – warning crime-fighting risks being too influenced by "party politics".
Former Devon County Council leader Brian Greenslade is considering running as an independent candidate for the £85,000-a-year post in Devon and Cornwall.
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Brian Greenslade believes there is no place for party politics in the role of police commissioner
But after it emerged the Lib Dems are seeking a nominee for the November vote, Mr Greenslade has announced he will not wear the party's rosette if he does run.
He told the Western Morning News: "I believe the public want coppers not commissioners and the public certainly don't want party politics in policing."
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The party in the region had initially planned not to put forward a would-be commissioner after taking instructions from head office.
The Conservatives are drawing up a shortlist, with open elections planned for July, and Labour members in the two counties have two nominees to choose from.
It is thought independents will stand little chance of winning without the backing of a political party's funding and manpower.
Stand-alone elections for 41 new police commissioners, including one for Devon and Cornwall, are scheduled to take place later this year.
Mr Greenslade, a former chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority and head of the Liberal Democrat group on the Association of Police Authorities, is a county and North Devon district councillor.
The police authority, which oversees policing, is being scrapped to make way for the US-style police and crime commissioner, plus a panel to act as a watchdog. Chief constables will still be in charge of operational policing.
Mr Greenslade said he was a "resolute opponent" of the legislation to put the governance of policing in the hands of an individual, adding this was Lib Dem policy at the general election.
He said: "For the avoidance of any doubt, I will not be seeking nomination as a party-political candidate for the election. Key reasons for my opposition was that party politics should not be brought into policing and cost.
"While I have to accept that Parliament, unwisely, decided to change the governance of policing, my view that party politics should not be brought into these elections is unchanged.
"We expect our police officers not to show any party- political favour. Those standing in these elections should do likewise. In this period of austerity it is also obscene that police officer numbers should be substantially cut while the Government can waste £75 million on these elections.
"I believe the public want coppers not commissioners and the public certainly don't want party politics in policing. I believe the majority of Liberal Democrats in Devon and Cornwall share this view and did not want the party to run a candidate."
He added: "I confirm that in the circumstances Parliament has put us in I am seriously interested in standing for this office, but on my own independent platform, not as a party- political candidate, and continue to work to see what campaign I may be able to mount."
Comments
by Charlespk
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 6:26PM
“You are ungrateful Droit. . They kept your lot in power just long enough to totally destroy the economy.
;”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 5:33PM
“Get yourselves a Ray Mallon with 'Zero tolerance'. . Bang up all the druggies and alcohol abusers.
http://tinyurl.com/y5po5ns (open in a new window)”
by Doitdreckley
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 5:11PM
“Mr Greenslade must think we were all born yesterday. The Liberal Democrats are less popular than smallpox and have more chance of winning the X factor that this election, so they pretend not to stand but a senior figure from the party puts up as a 'non political' independent and the the sheeple vote for him.
Smacks of the Liberals of old who used to pretend they were 'independent' and upped the number of MPs, Councils and MEPs they had only to become complicit in a government that makes Maggie Thatcher's look socialist!”
by Charlespk
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 5:04PM
“Hello Cheekyman_jr!
Would you like an apprenticeship?
Well at least he's not Brian Paddick; bless. . . :)”
by cheekyman_jr
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 4:25PM
“Yes...no bald old people...can we just have youngsters who can't pronounce their TH's and quoff as many drugs as possible?”
by buffcoat1
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:57AM
“what a hypocrite,,,he is the Lib/Dem choice on the present Police Authority. Seemingly he will do anything and say anything to get his hands on more public cash”
by nicold
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:51AM
“This is what we want...someone not following political party lines and who has relevant experience for the job. £85,000 a year is still too much!”
by StanStill
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:46AM
“Just wait and see if Greenslade gets the job, he will be straight into playing party politics.”