Former Tory MP Walter Sweeney in the frame for police commissioner job
A FORMER Tory MP has thrown his hat in the ring as a possible contender to be the region's first police and crime commissioner.
Walter Sweeney currently runs Beverley's only five-star bed and breakfast business.
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Throwing his hat into the ring: Walter Sweeney at Newbegin House in Beverley. Picture: Jerome Ellerby
But he says he is prepared to swap running his B&B at Newbegin House for the new directly elected £75,000-a-year post overseeing policing and criminal justice issues across the region.
Mr Sweeney was a Conservative MP for the Vale of Glamorgan between 1992 and 1997.
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However, he is expected to stand as an independent candidate in November's election for the new-look post.
He said: "I believe the choice of the right person to become our police and crime commissioner is vital for high-quality policing in the area.
"We need someone who knows a lot about policing and is prepared to treat the role as a full-time job.
"I believe my academic background, my experience as a solicitor of dealing with criminals, my experience in chairing a police authority and my experience as an MP with a specialized interest in law and order matters combine to make me a strong candidate for this important role."
During his time as an MP he served on the home affairs select committee and was vice-chairman of the all-party penal affairs committee.
A former county councillor and police authority member in Bedfordshire before arriving at Westminster, Mr Sweeney also acted as an unpaid adviser to the then Home Secretary Michael Howard.
After losing his parliamentary seat in the 1997 general election he returned to his native East Riding, living first in North Cave and, more recently, in Beverley.
A law and politics graduate from the University of Hull, he spent several years practicing as a solicitor specialising in criminal law, prosecuting and defending in Hull Magistrates' Court.
His last foray into local politics came in 2008 when he stood in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election against David Davis after the MP resigned over civil liberty issues.
During that campaign Mr Sweeney stood as an independent, calling for a referendum on membership of the European Union.
He said: "I still believe passionately that we are too deeply immersed in the European Union but my views on this subject would not affect my ability to discharge the duties of a police and crime commissioner."
Comments
by pcrowan
Monday, July 02 2012, 12:11PM
“Strangley...Agreed but thats not going to happen”
by Strangley
Monday, July 02 2012, 3:02AM
“A B&B owner has no more time to run this job than someone with their snout still stuck in the Westminster trough.
Maybe we should have a "None of the above" option & stay as we are”
by pcrowan
Sunday, July 01 2012, 2:08AM
“Does anyone know what happened to Frank Scuttle? Seriously though he seems the best of the bunch so far although I don't agree with this trough-job at all' but firmly believe that as it is imposed on us we merely want the best person we can get and that means political or law types are IMO not suitable troughies but I do know who i'd put my money on”
by harryoffdock2
Saturday, June 30 2012, 9:01PM
“Demonica,
I know what you mean about fatty ordering his desk and no doubt secretary to go with it, but I hold out hope that the majority of people living outside of Hull do not vote Labour like the majority of sheep-like Hull residents do.”
by Kustard2011
Saturday, June 30 2012, 9:31AM
“I dont really agree with the need for a Police Commissioner.... However if there is to be one then please vote for Donald Duck, Miss Piggy, Goofy, Wallace & Gromet .... ANYONE but that bully Prescott.
He is neither qualified or suitable for the position”
by Demonica666
Saturday, June 30 2012, 8:33AM
“Found some interesting info on Mr Sweeney on t'internet. http://tinyurl.com/75c287l
Euro-sceptic, intelligently outspoken, challenges his own party and is not afraid to be a 'thorn in the side'. In fact, it appears he is the polar opposite of Prezza. I further assume that he does not own a jag and has never eaten a second or third brekkie out of a Greggs bag...
Sadly, I have the feeling that Prezza is already ordering his desk and getting measured for his regalia (XXXL) though.”
by jezhull
Saturday, June 30 2012, 7:08AM
“Totally agree with harryoffdock, this guy has all the right credentials to do the job and has to be a far better option than fatty two jags, the biggest hypocrite in the city.”
by harryoffdock2
Saturday, June 30 2012, 1:15AM
“Sound a better bet than the fat champagne "socialist", time the porky adulterer was put out to grass.”
by thejuggernaut
Friday, June 29 2012, 8:37PM
“im not a fan of prescott but i certainly would not vote for or want a sickfaced tory like him in. weve all seen what the tories are doing with their cuts eg the police for one.”
by Mickey_Luv2
Friday, June 29 2012, 7:45PM
“To echo what most right thinking people are saying. Anyone but thicky prescott”