Conservatives choose Gwent police commissioner candidate

CANDIDATE: Nick Webb CANDIDATE: Nick Webb

A MAN from Newport has been selected to run as the Conservative candidate for November's police and crime commissioner candidate in Gwent.

But Nick Webb, a 32-year-old from Newport who works for a Bath public relations firm, has admitted that the odds are against him in the region.

He denied he is a paper candidate and says he will campaign for the role, despite previous suggestions from a senior local Tory source that the party had decided to seek exactly that.

The source had expressed worries that it would be a tough fight for the party in a region dominated by Labour, while senior Newport Conservative Cllr David Fouweather has backed Ian Johnston.

Mr Webb has been backed by both Monmouth assembly member Nick Ramsay and the area's MP David Davies.

The candidate has said the public will not stand an overly partisan campaign and "such an approach would be counterproductive."

Mr Webb, who was selected at a party meeting on Monday in Usk, said he has had experience of being a victim crime and standing up to anti-social behaviour.

He said the role was not about selling the police to the public but "representing the grass roots."

"I have served as a community councillor. When I have seen anti-social behaviour going on I have been prepared to make it clear that it’s not acceptable in the area," he said.

"I think I will bring an understanding of what is happening at the grass roots level."

But he admitted "the odds are against us" and that Labour will start as favourites, but said the election wasn't predictable.

"This is not a paper candidacy. I am going to get involved in the campaign," he added.

Monmouth AM Mr Ramsay said: "I think he has ideas beyond party politics. I hope that the other candidates fight the election in that spirit."

MP Mr Davies added: "I'm absolutely delighted our candidate is in place. I look forward to working with him over the coming months."

‘Advice’ over comment

AN OFFICER alleged to have made an inappropriate comment on a social media site relating to the forthcoming police and crime commissioner elections will recieve “words of advice”, a Gwent Police spokesman said.

The Argus previously reported that Independent candidate Chris Wright said an officer was subject to a disiciplinary investigation after wishing him well on his Facebook page.

The spokesman for Gwent Police said the investigation is complete and the officer would receive words of advice regarding their future conduct.

Comments(15)

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
9:19am Thu 20 Sep 12

more utter piffle!

pinpong says...
10:02am Thu 20 Sep 12

If Fouweather doesnt support him he has no chance.

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
10:07am Thu 20 Sep 12

pinpong - Morning. He's got no chance anyway. By the way i only comment on what i know. Hav a nice day.

pinpong says...
10:22am Thu 20 Sep 12

I agree with you James. I am just saying that if a well known tory like fouweather is not on his side then he has even less of a chance.

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
10:27am Thu 20 Sep 12

p[iponmg - ok

chris warman says...
11:23am Thu 20 Sep 12

here is a question for you all

why should a police commissioner even be associated with a political party they should be completely independent and non political.

on another note i personally do not think we need police commissioners unless they are from with in the police service.

james.dyer7@ntlworld.com says...
11:26am Thu 20 Sep 12

chris warman - agreed

b3talover says...
12:11pm Thu 20 Sep 12

I just love the fact he denies being a paper candidate, when he most blatantly is! Hilarious!

On the inside says...
12:21pm Thu 20 Sep 12

It is not fair to judge someone on how they look.

gadget says...
12:55pm Thu 20 Sep 12

Trying not to be rude but the guy looks a bit of a wet lettuce to me . We need someone with balls to do the job of tackling crime .

Mr Angry says...
1:03pm Thu 20 Sep 12

chris warman wrote:
here is a question for you all why should a police commissioner even be associated with a political party they should be completely independent and non political. on another note i personally do not think we need police commissioners unless they are from with in the police service.
I agree 100%, but they wern't impartial during the Miners strike were they ??

Chris 4 Gwent P&CC says...
4:43pm Thu 20 Sep 12

Today I have read this South Wales Argus article and they have written ...

‘Advice’ over comment

AN OFFICER alleged to have made an inappropriate comment on a social media site relating to the forthcoming police and crime commissioner elections will receive “words of advice”, a Gwent Police spokesman said.

The Argus previously reported that Independent candidate Chris Wright said an officer was subject to a disciplinary investigation after wishing him well on his Facebook page.

The spokesman for Gwent Police said the investigation is complete and the officer would receive words of advice regarding their future conduct.

I want to thank the Gwent Police for seeing common sense and realising that words of advice is a fair and proper conclusion to the matter

Dai Rear says...
9:10am Sat 22 Sep 12

Grafting a US concept on to the bureaucracy of the Police Force is foolish. If we don't have elected police chiefs and judges like they do, what point in elected "Commissioners"?
For example, people's greatest concerns are being able to be safe from burglars and safe to use the streets. The British State, under constant pressure from Single Issue Fanatics, particularly of the "wimmins movement" dictates that "domestic violence"including "domineering", yes Dave is about to make this a crime, is the all time number 1 issue. And indeed approximately one third of all police resources are concentrated on this even though, with all due respect to adherents of the Politics of Victimhood, "domestic" stuff does not affect the public at large.If a Commissioner urges concentration on "stranger crime" he will be rapidly told off by his Party.

Cwmderi says...
7:39pm Sun 23 Sep 12

I think most commentators on this site agree that the appointment of the Commissioner should be removed from the hands of professional politicians and their party masters and they should be truly "Independent".

Without being too disrespectful to the Gwent conservatives, it really does appear that their London masters have instructed them to field a (paper) candidate, as it is their government that introduced the legislation to introduce these Police Commissioners.

Having taken the time to study the credentials of the candidates, I am firmly of the opinion that there is only one Independent candidate who has the experience, knowledge and the balls (earlier contributor) to seriously take on this very important job. Look at the credentials of Mr Ian Johnston - Enough said..

Robert Shillabeer says...
3:12pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Some very true comments on the concept of elected people being in front lines of policing. There is however some other possible changes to other public services such as the fire service and ambulance service if this proves to be politically good for whatever party is in control. It is hard to see what betterment of the police service will result except other than reporting to the home secretary of the UK Government it will need a report to the electorate in general, divide and conquer comes to mind.

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