So much has been written about the lead up to, and the fall-out from, last week’s elections for Police and Crime Commissioners that it seems almost futile to try to add anything.
As the paltry turn-out became obvious – formally and reportedly as it was obvious to anyone in touch with a polling station on the day – and the election of a myriad of quixotic independent candidates apparent, I tweeted that I thought we may regret introducing PCCs and that I regretted voting for the Bill which made them a reality.
That was borne out of frustration that we really didn’t need to end up where we did last Friday. It was predicted and therefore avoidable.
Take the issue of timing. Britain does not have a recent tradition of going to the polls in November. Whilst it was not uncommon in the 19th century, with November elections in 1806, 1812, 1837 and 1852, there were only two occasions of November voting in the 20th century – the most recent being 1935.
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