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John Prescott seeks job as Hull police commissioner
Lord Prescott will run to be elected in Hull as one of the UK's first Police and Crime Commissioners
JOHN Prescott will run to be elected in Hull as one of the UK’s first Police and Crime Commissioners, he announced today.
The former deputy prime minister confirmed he will run for the post in the elections in May this year.
Directly elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs) are being been brought in to replace police authorities in England and Wales.
They will have the power to hire and fire chief constables, set the police force’s budget and “strategic direction”.
The flagship initiative, introduced by the Coalition, has received harsh criticism from Labour who claim they are unnecessary and costly.
Yesterday Falklands veteran Simon Weston confirmed he will stand against former Wales first minister and ex-Labour minister for rural affairs Alun Michael for the job of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales.
Cardiff South and Penarth MP Mr Michael was previously the sole candidate for the £100,000-a-year job.
Mr Weston, 50, a father of three and a former Welsh Guardsman, was badly burned when the Sir Galahad was destroyed in 1982 during the Falklands conflict.
He suffered 46% burns on his body and underwent 70 major operations or surgical procedures during a slow recovery.
He overcame his injuries and went on to forge a new career as a charity worker, children’s author and after-dinner speaker.
Yesterday he urged others to follow his example and stand as a Police and Crime Commissioner to stop ageing politicians taking the roles.
Mr Weston’s spokesman Jason Smith confirmed the veteran would be standing against Mr Michael when elections take place on November 15.
Mr Weston earlier told The Sun: “Why should the politicians corner the market? Why should they have any greater insight to life?
“There are so many talented people out there who haven’t had a chance to do their bit yet. I’m going to stand as an independent candidate because I believe I can make a contribution and bring something different.”
Lord Prescott said he had agreed to put his name forward to be the Labour candidate in Humberside.
He said: “I want the opportunity to continue my public service to the region with a mandate from the people to protect the community and target criminals.
“I feel that after proudly serving as a local MP for 40 years and as a cabinet minister for 10 years, I have the experience to listen to the public and help be their strong voice in supporting the police and holding them to account.”
Lord Prescott said his recent struggle with the Metropolitan Police over phone hacking has led him to believe there should be a “greater transparency and accountability of our police”.
Two other local figures have already announced they want to stand in the contest to be the Labour candidate in Humberside.
These are former Hull City Council leader Colin Inglis and retired senior Humberside police officer Keith Hunter.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
MrCynic
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:18 PMOne hundred grand a year plus ex's, now that will buy a lot of M&S trifles.
Leeds man
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:15 PMI can't believe that I'm reading this. Everything that this philandering buffoon was involved with, he made a mess of. Despite being the most ineloquent person to ever hold a government office, he turned class hatred into an obsession. Yet he now chooses to live the life of the very people he said that despised And can anyone remember expensive foreign jaunts he made towards the end, paid for by us? To what purpose or value?. I thought that when his 'deputy prime minster' role ended we would have seen the last of him. Perheps not.
Tom Gilchrist
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:40 PMYes, thats what we need a police force being run by a self serving lefty. See Sense FFS!
pockman
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:06 PMPrezza for Police Commissar. I think not. May God have mercy on our Souls.
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