Police tsar rivals at war over vote law

Independent Gillian Radcliffe said Shaun Wright, who is deputy chairman of the police authority, should step down from his position immediately as it was giving him an unfair advantage.

Mrs Radcliffe, who lives in Barnsley, said of Coun Wright, who also sits on Rotherham Council: “Shaun Wright is treating this process like a coronation. I’m here to tell him that it is not. It is a democratic election.

“Every day that he remains as deputy chairman, drawing his allowance, he continues to have access to and potential influence over the chief officers of South Yorkshire Police and the officials of the police authority.

“He can access the full range of information on policing services, including those matters that would remain confidential from other candidates.

“I feel this is exactly the kind of unreasonable and inappropriate advantage that the legislation was intended to avoid.”

Coun Wright said: “I take my duties on the police authority – holding our police to account and helping to keep the people of South Yorkshire safe – very seriously.

“It would not be right for me to just suddenly abandon those duties.”