NEWLY re-elected Wiltshire Councillor, Jonathon Seed, has said he will not be resigning from his role, despite his controversial ‘disqualification’ from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election.
The Conservative Party’s candidate for the PCC role in Swindon and Wiltshire, was ‘disbarred’ from the election race the day before the result was announced, because of a drink driving offence from 1993. However, he won the election with a strong majority, meaning that another election is likely to be held, which could cost tax payers a reported £1.4million.
The election disruption caused by Jonathon Seed’s withdrawal has sparked calls for his resignation from his role as Wiltshire Councillor for Melksham Without West & Rural. But the councillor is refusing to budge. He said, “I will continue with my work as a local councillor and within the local community, to which I have dedicated my life for the past 20 years.”
Jonathon Seed claims that when he applied to be a PCC candidate he believed that he was an eligible candidate and that he had declared his driving conviction to the Conservative Party. He also says that up until the evening of 6th May – the day of the PCC election – party officials had told him that his drink driving offence did not affect his eligibility to stand as a PCC candidate.
Guidance on the Electoral Commission’s website states that PCC candidates cannot stand for election if they have ever been convicted of an ‘imprisonable offence’. And candidates are asked to make a declaration on their nomination form that they believe that they are not disqualified from election as PCC.
However in a letter to Police Area Returning Officer for the Wiltshire and Swindon Police Area, Terence Herbert, announcing his withdrawal, Jonathon Seed explains that his offence in 1993 was not punishable by imprisonment at the time.
He said, “In 1993 I was convicted of an offence of driving with excess alcohol. I was fined and disqualified from driving for a period of 18 months. I was neither sentenced to a term of imprisonment, nor, under the sentencing authorities could I have been. I therefore did not regard this an ‘imprisonable offence’.”
Wiltshire Council’s head of paid service will now consider the next steps to take following the PCC election “after taking appropriate legal advice”.
Wiltshire Police has also confirmed that it has received a report and that they are “currently assessing” how they will proceed.
About the police investigation, Jonathon Seed said, “As may be expected in matters like this, relating to a public election, I am informed that the police have now opened an investigation. I welcome this, and will, of course fully cooperate.”
Jonathon Seed’s statement in full, released on Sunday 9th May, said, “I can confirm that I have today withdrawn my candidacy for the post of Police Crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon.
“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 thirty-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.
“I am bitterly disappointed that I will not be able to take up the post if I were to be elected. I wish the successful candidate every success in the role. I will continue with my work as a local councillor and within the local community, to which I have dedicated my life for the past 20 years.”
The Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner results were as follows:
First preference votes: Junab Ali (Labour): 34,147; Julian Malins (Reform UK): 4,348; Brig Oubridge (Green): 16,606; Mike Rees (Independent): 31,722; Jonathon Seed (Conservative): 84,885; Liz Webster (Liberal Democrats): 35,013
The total number of valid first and second preference votes cast for the remaining candidates was: Jonathon Seed (Conservative): 100,003; Liz Webster (Liberal Democrats): 58,074
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