Lincolnshire PCC announces departure from the Conservative Party
Lincolnshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Marc Jones will serve out his remaining term of office as an Independent after leaving the Conservative Party.
Marc Jones confirmed he has left the party after standing in three successful PCC elections and a candidate for Parliament on behalf of the Tories. He also served seven years in total as a Conservative councillor on both the city and county councils.
In his announcement Mr Jones said he felt it would best serve the interests of the people of the county and his fight for fairer funding for Lincolnshire Police to step away from party politics.
“It remains the greatest honour of my life to serve the people of Lincolnshire as their police and crime commissioner and having been elected only last year for my third term I still have a considerable amount of work I wish to complete before the role of police and crime commissioner is removed in 2028,” he said.
“I wish to be clear that my world view and my values have not changed during that time and I’ve been proud to have been elected as a Conservative here in Lincolnshire. I also want to be clear that I have no interest in joining any other political party.
“I have always put Lincolnshire first even when that has put me at odds with the Conservative Party or its policy. I have always been independently minded and acted in the best interests of Lincolnshire.”
He added: “I do believe that for the remaining period of my time as the PCC I will best serve the people of Lincolnshire standing away from party politics completely. I remain focused on delivering additional funding for Lincolnshire Police – something I am very proud to have worked tirelessly on over the last nine years with some but not complete success.
“I remain focused upon this task in the weeks, months and years ahead. I wish to thank everyone across the county who voted for me during the last three elections and want to assure them, and the rest of the residents of Lincolnshire, that I remain fully committed to them and this role.
“Policing has never been under such strain and whether these pressures come from a lack of resource, an increase in assaults on officers and staff, or the additional pressures from the level of demand, my focus will remain on supporting the chief constable in delivering for his team and, more importantly, for the public.”