West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has issued a statement about the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
The bill could potentially see a change in governance between the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said:
“Last night the House of Lords put a stop to the government’s cynical attempt to undermine local democracy in the West Midlands. In an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, government plans to abolish the right of the people to vote for their Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2024 were blocked. Lord Willy Bach’s amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, recognised the importance of a democratically elected and directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioner.
“At present, the people of the West Midlands have the right to vote in order to democratically elect their Police and Crime Commissioner. The government and its West Midlands Metro Mayor plan to abolish the people’s democratic right to vote; end direct accountability to the people; remove the people’s choice as to who represents them; and transfer power from the people, to the Mayor. Make no mistake, this was not an evolution or a merger. It was profoundly undemocratic, deeply divisive and nothing more than a proposed hostile takeover
“I am grateful to Lord Bach and all the other Lords who supported his amendment. They have added their voices to the local authorities of the West Midlands, the majority of which have also opposed abolition of the people’s right to vote for their PCC and the voters of the West Midlands, who clearly showed they wanted a democratically elected and directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioner, at the ballot box in 2021.
“The government and its Mayor want to take power away from the people and transfer it to the Mayor, so he can appoint someone of his own personal choosing, on the basis of patronage. The government and the Mayor need to understand that the people of the West Midlands want to retain a democratically elected and directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioner chosen by them.
“It is the people’s vote, the people’s choice and the people’s decision. The government and its Mayor would be well advised not to make any further challenge to this amendment and the expressed will of the people of the West Midlands.”
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