Jonathon Seed: Conservative PCC candidate barred after offence emerges

A candidate running to be Wiltshire's next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has been disbarred after a historical driving offence emerged.

Jonathon Seed was the Conservative Party's candidate to replace fellow Tory Angus Macpherson.

A party spokesperson confirmed Mr Seed had been disbarred, while Mr Seed told the BBC he had withdrawn himself.

Vote counting for the PCC post is due to start in Salisbury at 10:00 BST on Monday and is set to go ahead.

If Mr Seed wins the vote, another election will need to be held.

A Conservative spokesperson said the central party was unaware of the offence until a couple of days ago.

They said: "Due to a historic driving offence that has come to light, the candidate has been disbarred from becoming the police and crime commissioner."

Mr Seed, a Wiltshire councillor, said he had been advised by his party that a 30-year-old drink driving offence would not affect his application and that he had believed he was eligible.

He said he withdrew his candidacy earlier on Sunday.

Mr Seed said he was "bitterly disappointed" that he would now no longer be able to take up the post if he won the vote and wished Mr Macpherson's eventual replacement "every success in the role".

"I will continue with my work as a local councillor and within the local community, to which I have dedicated my life for the past 20 years," he said.

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