Northumbria

Candidates may spend up to £195,548 during the election period for this £85,000 post.

Statement of Persons Nominated

Peter Andras – Liberal Democrats

Vera Baird – Labour – Website

Alastair Baxter – UKIP

Phil Butler – Conservative – Website

Former Solicitor-General Vera Baird has been selected as the Labour candidate, after receiving 1,921 votes against 635 for Sunderland councillor Tom Foster floated the possibility of her running for Police and Crime Commissioner in Northumbria. She seemed to test the waters with rumours before announcing she was running, as did other former Ministers. She qualifies as local, having rented a flat in the area.

Newcastle City Council cabinet member Henri Murison stood down when he felt there was a better candidate running. Leader of Gateshead Council Mick Henry was rumoured, but preferred his current role. Former North Tyneside mayor John Harrison was a possible, and Cestria Community Housing Association Chairman Paul Tinnion was a candidate. Sue Pearson meanwhile was longlisted for Labour but didn’t make the shortlist.

Retired Police Officer Phil Butler has been chosen as the Conservative candidate. Retired Tyneside Detective Inspector Stewart Hay was the only publicly known Conservative in the running.

Meanwhile the Evening Chronicle reported that former LibDem MP Lembit Opik is also in the frame to stand in Northumbria. Cheeky! Here, he nearly begs the LibDems to enter the field just so that he can run. They chose Peter Andras instead.

Councillor David Potts hoped to secure the UKIP nomination. His TopOfTheCops Candidate Statement is here. Local press reported him as bankrupt and UKIP chose Alastair Baxter.