Conservative councillor from St Ives elected police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire

Candidates for the police and crime commissioner post in Cambridgeshire (Image: Archant)

Councillor Ablewhite, hitherto the leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, emerged victorious after two rounds of voting – with a 9,371-vote majority over his nearest challenger after second preference votes were taken into account.

Labour’s Dave Baigent contested the second round of voting against Conservative Cllr Ablewhite, after having polled a healthy 54,426 votes in the first round, and although he picked up more second preference votes, it wasn’t enough to close the gap on Cllr Ablewhite.

UKIP’s Nick Clarke (29,968) and Liberal Democrat Rupert Moss-Eccardt (27,884) were both eliminated after the first round of voting.

Cllr Ablewhite will follow in the footsteps of Sir Graham Bright, Cambridgeshire’s first ever police and crime commissioner, who decided not to stand for a second term.

First preference votes:

Jason Ablewhite (Con) 63,614

Dave Baigent (Labour) 54,426

Nick Clarke (UKIP) 29,968

Rupert Moss-Eccardt (Lib Dem) 27,884

Second preference votes:

Jason Ablewhite (Con) 17,967

Dave Baigent (Lab) 18,054

Totals:

Jason Ablewhite (Con) 81,851

Dave Baigent (Lab) 72,480

Turnout:

Cambridge City: 39.4 per cent

East Cambridgeshire: 18.14 per cent

Fenland: 18.23 per cent

Huntingdonshire: 29.35 per cent

Peterborough: 35.70 per cent

South Cambridgeshire: 34.34 per cent

Overall: 30.56 per cent