Tory who withdrew from police commissioner race over conviction WINS

Confusion as Tory candidate who withdrew from Wiltshire police commissioner race AFTER the vote when he realised he was ineligible due to 30-year-old drink-driving conviction WINS the election

• On Monday, it was announced Jonathon Seed won the Wilshire PCC seat
• But Conservative Party said he had been ‘disbarred’ due to conviction 
• In UK a person cannot be a PCC if they have conviction for imprionsable offence
• Mr Seed told the BBC he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ and that he had withdrawn 

A police and crime commissioner election candidate who withdrew after a historic driving conviction came to light has been declared the winner of the vote.

Jonathon Seed, Conservative Party candidate for Wiltshire and Swindon PCC, received 40 per cent 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.

A spokesperson for the party said Mr Seed, who had been hoping to take over from Conservative colleague Angus Macpherson who is standing down, had been ‘disbarred’ after a driving offence had ‘come to light’.

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.

Speaking at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury where Monday’s count was held, Mr Herbert said: ‘The election has been called and Jonathon Seed has been duly elected.

‘As regards the next steps, as the head of paid services, I am the appropriate officer for making any declaration as to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner becoming vacant.

A police and crime commissioner election candidate who withdrew after a historic driving conviction came to light has been declared the winner of the vote. Jonathon Seed, Conservative Party candidate for Wiltshire and Swindon PCC, received 40 per cent 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

‘Given this unprecedented situation and given the circumstances, I will be seeking legal advice on the next steps and at that point I will be able to make any statements necessary about the position.

‘If the post of the PCC is vacant, if someone is disqualified or does not sign the declaration, then the post will be defined as vacant and an election will be called.’

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Seed – who won a combined total of 47% of the vote – insisted he had declared his conviction to the party in his application for the role.

Mr Seed said: ‘To the best of my knowledge and belief when I applied for, and became, the police and crime commissioner candidate for the Conservative Party in Wiltshire and Swindon, I was an eligible candidate.

‘I have declared my 30-year-old driving conviction to the party in my applications both to be a parliamentary candidate and more recently a PCC candidate.

‘Party officials confirmed my belief that my offence did not disqualify me. 

‘I have now been advised that this is not the case, and that I am disqualified as a PCC candidate. I have therefore withdrawn.’

Mr Seed – who won a total of 100,003 votes – said on Sunday that he would be ‘bitterly disappointed’ not to take up the post if he won the election.

According to a 2012 article in the Salisbury Journal, Mr Seed, a former hunt master, was previously charged with breaching the Hunting Act 2004

Electoral Commission guidance says PCC candidates cannot stand for election if they have been convicted of an imprisonable offence.

Liberal Democrat candidate Liz Webster, who came second after securing 17 per cent of the vote in the first round and a combined total of 27 per cent, said: ‘The question that needs to be asked is when the Conservative Party knew (Mr Seed) was ineligible to stand and, if that was before Thursday (polling day), why they didn’t say anything, because voters could have made an informed decision.

‘It’s going to cost the taxpayer £1.4 million to re-run the election, and there will obviously have to be a further police inquiry and, depending on the outcome, it may be a case for the Crown Prosecution Service.’

Ms Webster, who won a total of 58,074 votes, added: ‘Jonathon Seed has treated Wiltshire and Swindon residents with total contempt.

‘Re-running this election will require residents to vote again and deny our tired elections staff their well-deserved break. All of that is an absolute disgrace.’

A spokesperson for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) said: ‘While this situation is unprecedented, there is legislation in place for this eventuality and due process will be followed.

‘Angus Macpherson remains as police and crime commissioner until Thursday.

‘The OPCC will be working closely with Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council and the Police and Crime Panel, once confirmed, to ensure any following legal process is handled as effectively and efficiently as possible.’

Mr Seed – who faced competition from five other candidates for the PCC post which involves holding Wiltshire Police to account, overseeing a budget and setting its priorities – was also re-elected as a councillor to Wiltshire Council for the Melksham Without West & Rural ward on Saturday.  

A Conservative spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Due to a historic driving offence that has come to light, the candidate has been disbarred from becoming the Police and Crime Commissioner.’ 

According to a 2012 article in the Salisbury Journal, Mr Seed, a former hunt master, was previously charged with breaching the Hunting Act 2004.

The case, a private prosecution by the RSPCA, was later dropped due to a lack of evidence. 

Mr Seed always maintained his innocence and described the proceedings at the time as ‘an abuse of the private prosecution system’. 

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