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Labour picks John Prescott to run for police commissioner Labour picks John Prescott to run for police commissioner
(about 1 hour later)
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has been announced as one of Labour's candidates to be a police commissioner later this year.Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has been announced as one of Labour's candidates to be a police commissioner later this year.
He will stand in Humberside, which includes the seat of Hull East, where he served as an MP for 40 years.He will stand in Humberside, which includes the seat of Hull East, where he served as an MP for 40 years.
Commissioners, to be elected in England and Wales in November, will oversee the work of police, which ministers say will make forces more accountable.Commissioners, to be elected in England and Wales in November, will oversee the work of police, which ministers say will make forces more accountable.
Labour, which opposes the change, says it will "make the best of a bad job".Labour, which opposes the change, says it will "make the best of a bad job".
The government says commissioners, paid £70,000 and covering each of the forces in England and Wales, will create a more in-touch police service, better equipped to deal with people's concerns.The government says commissioners, paid £70,000 and covering each of the forces in England and Wales, will create a more in-touch police service, better equipped to deal with people's concerns.
They will have the power to hire and fire chief constables, hold them to account and set forces' budgets.They will have the power to hire and fire chief constables, hold them to account and set forces' budgets.
'Very important''Very important'
At Labour's campaign launch in Birmingham, party leader Ed Miliband said: "We didn't seek these police commissioner elections. We thought that if you were spending £125m most people would want that money spent on the police, not on new elections.At Labour's campaign launch in Birmingham, party leader Ed Miliband said: "We didn't seek these police commissioner elections. We thought that if you were spending £125m most people would want that money spent on the police, not on new elections.
"But if these elections do go ahead - if the government insists on them going ahead - we, Labour, are determined to make the best of a bad job."But if these elections do go ahead - if the government insists on them going ahead - we, Labour, are determined to make the best of a bad job.
"What we are going to be arguing for in these elections is very, very important."What we are going to be arguing for in these elections is very, very important.
"First of all we are going to be saying taking officers off the streets is the wrong thing to do - it's not what our communities want, it's not what the police want.""First of all we are going to be saying taking officers off the streets is the wrong thing to do - it's not what our communities want, it's not what the police want."
Several senior Labour figures have been nominated.Several senior Labour figures have been nominated.
Former Liverpool Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy was chosen as candidate for Merseyside's commissioner.Former Liverpool Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy was chosen as candidate for Merseyside's commissioner.
Ex-Solicitor General Vera Baird won the nomination for the Northumbria force.Ex-Solicitor General Vera Baird won the nomination for the Northumbria force.
Tony Lloyd, the former chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was elected unopposed as candidate for Greater Manchester.Tony Lloyd, the former chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was elected unopposed as candidate for Greater Manchester.
And former work and pensions minister James Plaskitt - who lost the marginal seat of Warwick and Leamington at the last election - will run in Warwickshire.And former work and pensions minister James Plaskitt - who lost the marginal seat of Warwick and Leamington at the last election - will run in Warwickshire.
Meanwhile, the former First Minister of Wales, Alun Michael, was nominated to run in South Wales, with his son, Tal Michael, representing North Wales.Meanwhile, the former First Minister of Wales, Alun Michael, was nominated to run in South Wales, with his son, Tal Michael, representing North Wales.
A local news website has reported that Harriet Yeo, a local councillor and vice-chairwoman of Labour's National Executive Committee, was burgled at the weekend while attending the meeting at which she was selected to be the party's candidate to fight crime in Kent.