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| Leicestershire's policing boss Rupert Matthews joins Reform UK | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rupert Matthews has been Leicestershire's PCC since 2021 | Rupert Matthews has been Leicestershire's PCC since 2021 |
| The police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK. | The police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK. |
| Rupert Matthews has held the position since 2021 and served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Tories between 2017 and 2019. | Rupert Matthews has held the position since 2021 and served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Tories between 2017 and 2019. |
| Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he said the "dark heart of wokeness" needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system. | Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he said the "dark heart of wokeness" needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system. |
| "The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time are now on notice their day is almost done," he said. | "The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time are now on notice their day is almost done," he said. |
| "Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all. They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform." | "Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all. They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform." |
| Matthews was re-elected as PCC in May 2024, beating Labour's Rory Palmer by 860 votes. | |
| Announcing the defection on Monday, Farage told the conference: "He's twice been elected as a Conservative but today he comes across to us as our first police and crime commissioner." | |
| He added: "Welcome on board." | |
| Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |