Labour MP: New Devon & Cornwall PCC “should not take oath”

Alison Hernandez is under police investigation for allegations relating to electoral expenses in 2015.

Ben Bradshaw has told Channel 4 News Alison Hernandez should “step aside pending the outcome of this investigation.”

He tells Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow: “I think she should not take the oath that she is due to take tomorrow.

“She should step aside pending the outcome of this investigation. I just think it’s untenable for somebody to run our local police service in Devon and Cornwall who is under investigation, under criminal investigation for such a serious offence and that the public should be expected to have confidence in her performing that role.

“While this investigation is ongoing in the interests of public confidence in this role, Miss Hernandez should not take the oath, she should step aside.

External investigation

“I’m pleased to hear that Devon and Cornwall police have asked another police service to conduct the investigation on their behalf although that will cost our local council tax payers a lot more than if they had done the investigation themselves.

“But she’ll still be police and crime commissioner for an area where a number of Conservative MPs are being investigated and I just don’t think that’s tenable.

“Ever since this story first broke I’ve talked about it but I’m a lone Labour dot in a sea of blue in the south west so perhaps that hasn’t registered with their national media in London.

“I would like to congratulate Channel 4 News for unearthing this story. I think the difference we have in the South West is that we’re not just talking about Conservative MPs, but somebody who has just been elected as our Police and Crime Commissioner who was the agent for one of the Conservative MPs implicated and I think that’s why out situation is particularly serious.”

Ben Bradshaw said he didn’t think other parties were doing the same and said he would “certainly” take it up with his party.

“Certainly the allegations are very serious. The allegations contained in your report last week I thought were extremely serious and if they are proven and if they are proven to be true that would constitute a very serious criminal offence.”