Brian Greenslade risks Lib Dem suspension with commissioner bid

The Lib Dem council leader wants to stand as an independent in the police commissioner elections

The leader of North Devon Council risks being suspended from the Liberal Democrats if he stands as an independent in the election for a Police and Crime Commissioner.

Brian Greenslade has said he does not want to stand under his party's banner because he believes the role should not be political.

The Lib Dems recently announced they are to field candidates.

The police and crime commissioner elections will be held on 15 November.

Andrew Bridgwater, vice chair of the Lib Dems in Devon and Cornwall, said: "If Mr Greenslade stands against an official candidate he risks suspension and disciplinary action."

No 'blackmail'

Mr Greenslade, who is also a Devon county councillor said he did not intend to change his mind and it was a matter for the Liberal Democrats.

He said: "I'm afraid I'm not going to be blackmailed - I'm doing what I'm doing for the reasons I'm doing them.

"If people want to give party politics a bad name that's a matter for them."

Mr Greenslade had previously said he did not agree with the commissioner roles which were being introduced by the coalition.

He said he was concerned about the cost of the election at a time of police cuts and did not believe party politics should come into police governance.

But he decided to stand for the job because he felt he could bring relevant experience to the role.

A trained accountant, Mr Greenslade is also a former chair and a current member of the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority.

Police and Crime Commissioners will oversee budgets, set priorities and have the power to hire and fire the chief constable.

Back in May, after months of wrangling, the Devon and Cornwall Lib Dems decided to put forward candidates for the commissioner election.

But by agreeing to do this, the regional party is going against the high command in London.

Party leaders have said they are opposed to participation in the police commissioner elections as they do not believe the role should be politicised but have left it to local parties to decide if they field candidates.

Torbay's Lib Dem MP Adrian Sanders thinks it will be impossible for the elected commissioner to avoid making political decisions.

He said: "Every decision that this very powerful person will take will be a political decision.

"The first question that has to be asked of any police commissioner is are they going to be happy with the budget that's available and if they are not, are they going to try to take on the government for more resources".

Mr Sanders also thinks that Mr Greenslade will struggle to get votes outside of North Devon.

"His difficulty is going to be the Liberal Democrats in Torbay and Plymouth and in Cornwall who make up more than half the electorate, [who] will be delivering leaflets for a liberal democrat candidate," he said.

The regional party, which is due to select its candidate in September, is entering the race later than Labour and the Conservatives.

Tony Hogg, former commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose will represent the Conservatives and Plymouth City Councillor, Nicky Williams will stand for Labour.