UKIP enters Kent police commissioner race with candidate Piers Wauchope
by political editor Paul Francis
A lawyer who ousted the leader of Tunbridge Wells council
from his seat is to stand as the UKIP candidate in the election for
Kent's first police commissioner.
Piers Wauchope made headlines in May when he pulled off an
electoral coup by winning the ward that had been held by former
council leader Bob Atwood.
Mr Wauchope now hopes to repeat his success in the forthcoming
election to become Kent's directly elected police commissioner.
His entry into the race brings to nine the number of candidates
vying for the £85,000 a year role.
Before joining UKIP, Mr Wauchope, who was not available for
comment, had represented the Conservative party as a councillor in
Camden.
By coincidence, the Conservative party candidate Craig Mackinlay
had been a leading figure in UKIP before defecting.
Meanwhile, the former independent MP and journalist Martin Bell
has leant his support to the former Kent Police Authority chairman
Ann Barnes.
Mr Bell was MP for Tatton between 1997 and 2001. He joined Mrs
Barnes in a walkabout in Rochester where he outlined his concerns
that voter apathy would lead to a poor turnout.
The election for the police commissioner - which will take the
place of appointed police authorities - is on November 15.
20/09/12
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