2014 West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by-election

2014 West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by-election
← 2012 21 August 2014 2016 →
Position of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
Turnout10.38% (Decrease 1.58%)
  First party Second party
 
Lab
Con
Candidate David Jamieson Les Jones
Party Labour Conservative
Popular vote 102,561 54,091
Percentage 50.8% 26.8%
  Third party Fourth party
 
UKIP
LD
Candidate Keith Rowe Ayoub Khan
Party UKIP Liberal Democrats
Popular vote 32,187 12,950
Percentage 15.9% 6.5%
PPC before election

Brynmor John
Labour

Subsequent PPC

Kim Howells
Labour

The 2014 West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by-election was a by-election for the position of Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands Police region of the United Kingdom, held on 21 August 2014. It was triggered by the death of Bob Jones, the inaugural West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, who died on 1 July 2014.[1][2][3]

The election had to be held with 35 working days of the vacancy by virtue of Section 51 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.[4] On 4 July 2014, Birmingham City Council, who oversaw the election, confirmed that the poll would be held on 21 August 2014.[5]

Candidates

On 25 July 2014, Birmingham City Council published the statement of persons nominated, which confirmed that four people had been validly nominated to stand:[6]

Results

Jamieson won the election with 50.83% of first preference votes on a turnout of 10.38%.[12] Turnout ranged between 9.78% in Sandwell to 11.58% in Solihull.[13] Alexandra Runswick, director of the pressure group Unlock Democracy, said that "few voters knew that the election was happening and even fewer cared".[13] The previous lowest turnout for a large-scale by-election in the United Kingdom since the Second World War was 18.2%, in the 2012 Manchester Central by-election.[13]

2014 West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by-election[14]
Party Candidate 1st round 2nd round 1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
Total Of round Transfers Total Of round
Labour David Jamieson 102,561 50.8%
​​
Conservative Les Jones 54,091 26.8%
​​
UKIP Keith Rowe 32,187 15.9%
​​
Liberal Democrats Ayoub Khan 12,950 6.5%
​​
Turnout 201,789 10.38%
Rejected ballots 3,667 1.78%
Total votes 205,456 10.41
Registered electors 1,993,998
Labour hold

Previous result

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner election, 2012[15]
Party Candidate 1st round 2nd round 1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
Total Of round Transfers Total Of round
Labour Bob Jones 100,130 42.00% 17,285 117,415
​​
Conservative Matt Bennett 44,130 18.51% 11,555 55,685
​​
Independent Cath Hannon 30,778 12.91%
​​
UKIP Bill Etheridge 17,563 7.37%
​​
Independent Derek Webley 17,488 7.34%
​​
Liberal Democrats Ayoub Khan 15,413 6.47%
​​
Independent Mike Rumble 12,882 5.40%
​​
Turnout 238,384 11.96%
Rejected ballots 7,063 2.88%
Total votes 245,447 12.31
Registered electors 1,993,998
Labour win

References

  1. ^ "'His shoes will be a huge pair to fill': Temporary commissioner to be chosen following Bob Jones' tragic death". Express and Star. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  2. ^ "West Midlands PCC Bob Jones dies aged 59". BBC News. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  3. ^ "West Midlands PCC Bob Jones CBE dies suddenly, aged 59". Thin Blue Line. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  4. ^ Section51 PRaSRA Legislation.gov
  5. ^ sarahk (4 July 2014). "Police and crime commissioner". Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated PCC By Election 2014" (PDF). Birmingham City Council.
  7. ^ Ex-MP David Jamieson secures Labour nomination for police commissioner post Birmingham Post
  8. ^ Labour announce their candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in West Midlands by-election LabourList
  9. ^ Former Dudley Council leader eyes up police and crime commissioner job Stourbridge News
  10. ^ "Barrister who gave first aid to gun attack victim to stand as police boss" Birmingham Mail, 20 July 2014
  11. ^ UKIP picks Birmingham boss as crime commissioner candidate Birmingham Mail
  12. ^ "West Midlands PCC named as David Jamieson in 10.3% turnout election". BBC News. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  13. ^ a b c The least popular election ever?, BBC News
  14. ^ "Police and Crime Commissioner by-election results". Birmingham City Council.
  15. ^ "Police and Crime Commissioner election coverage". Birmingham City Council.