Contrary to what some pundits were predicting, former Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader won the PCC election for the Tories. The turnout was a pathetic - just 15.98%.
There was no outright winner after the first count. Sir Clive had 59915 votes, Sarah Russell 42051, and the independent Suleman Nagdi 21744. After Nagdi's votes were redistributed to the second choice the final outcome was Tories 64661, Lab 51835. In other words, an archetypical Tory got 25% of the largely Asian, largely city vote, we got 50% give or take, and 25% expressed no second preference.
The results here in Harborough District were a slightly better turnout of 18.7%, Con 8424, Lab 2262 and Ind 1446.
What does this tell us? Firstly, the public does not like the idea of an elected PCC. Labour should pledge to abolish the post forthwith. Secondly, the absence of LibDems does not automatically mean more Labour votes. Thirdly, the Asian vote, as I have been saying for some time, is not to be taken for granted as Labour. It is far more subtle than that. Finally and most importantly it tells us that people recoil from politics as the game has traditionally been conducted.
This was even the case in Corby where Andy Sawford achieved a thumping victory and the LibDems lost their deposit. Take nothing away from the achievement of Andy and his team but the turnout - in Corby, which has been roundly betrayed by the Tories, in the media spotlight and with all the political heavyweights in town - was only 44.8%.
Britain is becoming anti-political. It suits the Tories and the right wing press to encourage the antagonism. We in Labour have to find new, better ways of engaging with and motivating the people who instinctively side with us.
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