Bob Spencer responds to Tony Hogg's resignation from Tory party
The shock resignation from the Tory party of Tony Hogg, the region’s police and crime commissioner, should be a clear message to voters in next week’s election, says independent candidate Bob Spencer.
Mr Spencer has called for politics to be excluded from the role and says the commissioner must be free to speak and free to act and not be controlled by a party whip.
Mr Hogg, who was the first PCC for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly elected in 2012, is standing down but says he has been angered by the government’s refusal to publicise the election, which tended to disadvantage the independent candidates.
He has now announced his resignation from the Conservative Party.
Mr Hogg says he refuses to back any one candidate but insists that whoever wins must have "the gravitas" to stand up to the chief constable and oppose political party bosses.
He said: "The party machines are quite substantial and can roll out their votes while independents are struggling to pay their deposits," he said.
"The job must not fall victim to the party whip or to party political influence – I have made no friends over this in my party.”
Mr Spencer, a former Acting Assistant Chief Constable with the Devon and Cornwall force, says that not only should the new PCC be free of party allegiances, but it was also vital that they should also be knowledgeable about policing.
He said Mr Hogg had spent tens of thousands on advisers, but that would not be necessary if he was to take on the role.
Said Mr Spencer: “I am fearful and apprehensive at what central government is saying in relation to the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on May 5. I don't get alarmed easily.
“They say the post will be the voice of the people - it doesn't feel like that. They say they do not want political control of the police. It doesn't feel like that.”
“On May 5 please vote for someone independent who understands the police having worked there. Stop this political control before it gathers so much momentum before we lose every single police station and a police officer becomes a thing of the past, like our hospital Matrons.”
