PCC defects to Reform

Elected Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police Crime Commissioner Rupert Mathews has switched from the Conservative Party to Reform.

Mr Mathews cited the : “dark heart of political correctness” for changing his allegiance.

With leader of Reform Nigel Farage at his side he said: “The courts impose sentences that too often are derisory and Labour’s early release means that crooks are back out after serving a fraction of their time in prison. Now it’s all because our prisons are full”.

“They’re full of foreign criminals who should be deported the day they are convicted, not kept here at the expense of British taxpayers. It’s no wonder that criminals do not fear the justice system, no wonder that the law abiding have almost given up on reporting crimes, and our wonderful police officers are let down even by their own senior commanders,” said Mr Mathews who was elected as PCC in 2021 and re – elected last year. He previously served as a Conservative MEP for the East Midlands between 2017 – 2019.

“The police are fighting crime with one hand tied behind their back,” he added.