Webster (LD) 35013 Mr Seed did not attend the count. Wiltshire Council said that it would now consider the next steps to take after taking “appropriate legal advice”. Under the 2011 law setting up the police and crime commissioner election process, a successful candidate has up to two months to sign the “declaration” to take up the role. If that declaration is not signed, the post becomes vacant and another election must be run. The post can also be declared vacant by order of the High Court. Mike Rees, who ran for the role as an independent, said there “needs to be a consideration” given into a criminal investigation into Jonathon Seed’s actions.
The election for Wiltshire and Swindon police and crime commissioner may need to be re-run after the race was won by a candidate who withdrew over a historic driving conviction.
Conservative Party candidate Jonathon Seed received 40% of the vote in the first round and was elected after it went to a second ballot, but will not be able to take up the post.
In a statement released after the result was declared, the election’s returning officer Terence Herbert said he would be considering the next steps after taking appropriate legal advice.
Mr Herbert said: “The election has been called and Jonathon Seed has been duly elected.
• Liz Webster (Liberal Democrats): 35013 The total number of valid first and second preference votes cast for the remaining candidates is: • Jonathon Seed (Conservative): 100,003 • Liz Webster (Liberal Democrats): 58,074 Terence Herbert, Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner Area Returning Officer, said: “The election count for the Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner has been completed today at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury, and Jonathon Seed, the Conservative Party candidate, has been declared as the winner. “The result of this election marks the culmination of a long and busy weekend for our hard working staff, who have managed a COVID-secure election across 348 polling stations in Wiltshire, and counts for 98 Wiltshire Council unitary divisions; 63 city, town and parish elections; and the PCC election.
Webster (LD) 35013 Mr Seed did not attend the count. Wiltshire Council said that it would now consider the next steps to take after taking “appropriate legal advice”. Under the 2011 law setting up the police and crime commissioner election process, a successful candidate has up to two months to sign the “declaration” to take up the role. If that declaration is not signed, the post becomes vacant and another election must be run. The post can also be declared vacant by order of the High Court. Mike Rees, who ran for the role as an independent, said there “needs to be a consideration” given into a criminal investigation into Jonathon Seed’s actions.
BBC News
Published
image captionJonathon Seed was barred after a historical driving offence
A police investigation has been launched after an ineligible candidate won a police and crime commissioner (PCC) election.
Conservative Jonathon Seed was elected to serve as Swindon and Wiltshire PCC, but cannot take up the post due to a previous driving conviction.
The election s returning officer said he was taking appropriate legal advice.
Wiltshire Police said it had asked Thames Valley Police to investigate.
The Wiltshire force said it handed over the investigation to ensure independent oversight and to remove any potential conflict of interest .
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police added: As our inquiries are ongoing we will not be making further comment at this time.