Just 16% vote as Wiltshire elects first police and crime commissioner
Wiltshire elected the country's first police and crime commissioner today but less than 16 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote.
Tory Angus Macpherson beat Labour candidate Clare Moody after a second round of voting.
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Wiltshire Police
Magistrate Mr Macpherson polled 35,319 votes to Ms Moody's 21,157 votes.
But just 81,477 votes were cast out from the 520,000 people registered to vote - a turnout of 15.8 per cent.
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Mr Macpherson, who has serviced as a councillor, received the backing of just seven per cent of the people eligible to vote.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: "It would have been better that more people voted.
"There are several reasons why people didn't come out to vote - they didn't understand what the job is. They didn't know who the candidates were and couldn't make a judgment.
"And then, depressingly, there were a lot of people while we were out on the street saying 'I don't (vote) for anything'."
Wiltshire Chief Constable Pat Geenty said: "I wish to congratulate Angus Macpherson as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon. Wiltshire Police is an excellent Force with dedicated and hard-working officers and staff and a good history of performance showing a reduction in overall crime over the last five years.
"The aim for Wiltshire Police remains one of reducing crime and anti social behaviour and keeping it one of the safest counties in the country.
"I look forward to working alongside Angus Macpherson, when he takes up office on Thursday 22 November, to shape a programme of work to help enable him to deliver his manifesto and priorities, as we continue to protect the public of Wiltshire and Swindon."
Wiltshire was the first force area to elect a new police and crime commissioner after being the only county to carry out its count overnight.
The result was declared at around 4.45am today.
Counting took place at Devizes Leisure Centre, Trowbridge Civic Centre, the Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury, the Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham and at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon where the result was declared.
RESULTS:
Angus Macpherson (Con) 35,319 (after second round)
Claire Moody (Lab) 21,157 (after second round)
Colin Skelton (Ind) 11,146
Paul Batcheltor (Lib Dem) 10,130
John Short (UK Ind) 7,250
Liam Silcocks (Ind) 5,212
Comments
by Viscount_V
Friday, November 16 2012, 11:19PM
“Apologies, the Independent beat the Labour candidate in Warwickshire on the second round of votes. Tories and Lib Dems edged into oblivion.”
by Viscount_V
Friday, November 16 2012, 11:07PM
“And Moe. I agree. Regardlesss of my fascination with the whole debacle, my Party loyalty and the fact I'll always vote for the socialist (or closest to) candidate it has been an utter, expensive, undemocratic farce. I'd now like to see a list of what the numerous spoiled ballot papers said.”
by Viscount_V
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:44PM
“Did Labour win Warwickshire?
I put Sue as a second choice as did every Labour supporter I know. The PCC result didn't surprise me particularly as other candidates didn't make contact. I think Bob Ashford may have been a slightly better option (sorry John).
I must admit I'm a tad shocked that Marvin didn't win in Bristol. I wish the red trousered one luck though and it will be interesting to have an apparently non party political mayor there.
It's true though that Tories tend to do better than otherwise in low turnouts, from experience Labour voters stay away and allow the unthinkable but I guess this time all Parties felt the wrath. I'm more than happy with Corby.”
by MoeXXX
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:32PM
“£100m for this farce when we're told we have to cut 3000 front line police. Disgusting.”
by rogerh3
Friday, November 16 2012, 6:34PM
“The Independent candidate, Sue Mountstevens, easily defeats the Tory, Ken Maddock, to become the new Avon & Somerset PCC - 125,704 to 67,842 votes.”
by BrookWhelan
Friday, November 16 2012, 5:17PM
“'Mr Nemo', all elections are organised by the Electoral Commission, including this one.”
by Mr_Nemo
Friday, November 16 2012, 4:34PM
“As mentioned on another thread, I received NO voting card nor any information as to the location of my polling station for PCC. If that situation was not uncommon across BANES, then it may not be surprising if the turn-out was low. Who was responsible for issuing such information anyway, gievn that this was neither a central nor local government election?”
by rogerh3
Friday, November 16 2012, 4:28PM
“Labour and LibDem candidates eliminated from PCC contest.”
by BrookWhelan
Friday, November 16 2012, 4:05PM
“Every little helps I guess :)”
by Dave_Weston
Friday, November 16 2012, 3:49PM
“LibDems lose their deposit in Corby - as Vix said they were 9 votes short of keeping it so a recount isn't so surprising!”