Drink-driving convictions ruin Ribchester man's police commissioner bid

2:35pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Ribble Valley news

A CANDIDATE in the running to be Lancashire’s first Police Crime Commissioner has had to pull out of the race because his two convictions for drink-driving have left him disqualified.

Former business manager Tony Johnson said he was ‘gutted’ at not being able to stand for the controversial role this November.

The 58-year-old from Ribchester, said: “I'm gutted to be out of the race but then again some people would say I should know better.

“In my 30s and early 40s I used to drink very heavily and regrettably I was convicted twice for drink-driving.

“The rules state anyone convicted of an imprisonable offence can not enter the election.

“It all seems a little unfair when I can be the Prime Minister, a law maker or even the Home Secretary.”

Mr Johnson stood against Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans in the 2010 general election as an independent.

The Commissioner will replace the police authority, an independent body which sets the budget and strategy for policing in the county.

The change is expected to cost £1.4million and will see one individual will oversee the entire force.

Concerns have been expressed about whether the new commissioner will be able to handle the workload, as they will be taking over from 17 independent and party members.

In the running to become the Conservative candidate is Ribble Valley Coun Kevin Horkin and former police officer Sam Chapman.

Early indications show the Labour candidate will be either County Coun Clive Grunshaw, Ibrahim Master or Mark Atkinson.

Comments (7)

3:42pm Sun 10 Jun 12

UKIP-Ron says...

my best wishes for the future goes out to Tony.
He would have made a great commissioner.

Strange that one can be disquilified on a long ago conviction, when it appears that Tony could be come Prime Minister or any other high political status.

Even MP.s who have robbed from the poor with their over stated expensises are immmune from being barred from high office.

Also one has to quistion the moral standing of one of the candidates who is running, who has (if belived) has had / may even still be, having or had a more than
persional friendship with a local conservative MP.
I for one can not stand for that sub normal behaviour, as indeed many thousands do like wise.

So its ok to rob, be in a none normal relationship with the same sex and many other mis- dimminures but a drink driving offence some 40 years ago is stritcly taboo.
What a strange world we now live in.

Ron Loebell, Clitheroe
my best wishes for the future goes out to Tony. He would have made a great commissioner. Strange that one can be disquilified on a long ago conviction, when it appears that Tony could be come Prime Minister or any other high political status. Even MP.s who have robbed from the poor with their over stated expensises are immmune from being barred from high office. Also one has to quistion the moral standing of one of the candidates who is running, who has (if belived) has had / may even still be, having or had a more than persional friendship with a local conservative MP. I for one can not stand for that sub normal behaviour, as indeed many thousands do like wise. So its ok to rob, be in a none normal relationship with the same sex and many other mis- dimminures but a drink driving offence some 40 years ago is stritcly taboo. What a strange world we now live in. Ron Loebell, Clitheroe UKIP-Ron

10:29am Mon 11 Jun 12

Bernard Righton says...

Please enlighten me as to your definition of "a normal" relationship
'
Indeed we do now live in a strange world - happily a more enlightened one than i suspect you would have us living in
Please enlighten me as to your definition of "a normal" relationship ' Indeed we do now live in a strange world - happily a more enlightened one than i suspect you would have us living in Bernard Righton

7:29pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Legal Beagle says...

"...many other mis- dimminures..."

You might have more credibility if you could spell.

For future reference the word is misdemeanours.

I find it depressing that you evidently take the view that someone in a same sex relationship is a morally worse person than someone who drives while drunk. I'm sure UKIP must be delighted to have such bigots representing them.
"...many other mis- dimminures..." You might have more credibility if you could spell. For future reference the word is misdemeanours. I find it depressing that you evidently take the view that someone in a same sex relationship is a morally worse person than someone who drives while drunk. I'm sure UKIP must be delighted to have such bigots representing them. Legal Beagle

12:13pm Tue 12 Jun 12

UKIP-Ron says...

Thanks to all for the comments and i do thank the person about the spelling mistakes. i totaly blame the keyboard.

My moral standing has nothing to do with the UKIP issue, but was made on Christian family issues.
It appears that ones sexual prefrences are now being stuff down our throats by the people who would be better off keeping the closet doors firmly closed.
Why should religious families be dictated to on matters of good honest up bringing, by a few who think its right for them to mis-us an establishment that preaches good moral standers for there own purposes?.

What right is it to condem one for a civil offence many years ago and in the same breath, praise the actions of people who are now degenarating our way of life to its lowest level.

This may not sit well with a few people but at least i will not be stoped from giving my own personal views like millions of others who share share my comments.

We are not a dictatorship YET.
Thanks to all for the comments and i do thank the person about the spelling mistakes. i totaly blame the keyboard. My moral standing has nothing to do with the UKIP issue, but was made on Christian family issues. It appears that ones sexual prefrences are now being stuff down our throats by the people who would be better off keeping the closet doors firmly closed. Why should religious families be dictated to on matters of good honest up bringing, by a few who think its right for them to mis-us an establishment that preaches good moral standers for there own purposes?. What right is it to condem one for a civil offence many years ago and in the same breath, praise the actions of people who are now degenarating our way of life to its lowest level. This may not sit well with a few people but at least i will not be stoped from giving my own personal views like millions of others who share share my comments. We are not a dictatorship YET. UKIP-Ron

12:15pm Tue 12 Jun 12

UKIP-Ron says...

Thanks to all for the comments and i do thank the person about the spelling mistakes. i totaly blame the keyboard.

My moral standing has nothing to do with the UKIP issue, but was made on Christian family issues.
It appears that ones sexual prefrences are now being stuff down our throats by the people who would be better off keeping the closet doors firmly closed.
Why should religious families be dictated to on matters of good honest up bringing, by a few who think its right for them to mis-us an establishment that preaches good moral standers for there own purposes?.

What right is it to condem one for a civil offence many years ago and in the same breath, praise the actions of people who are now degenarating our way of life to its lowest level.

This may not sit well with a few people but at least i will not be stoped from giving my own personal views like millions of others who share share my comments.

We are not a dictatorship YET.

I did not hide behind assumed names like the people who commented, what have you to hide i wonder?
Thanks to all for the comments and i do thank the person about the spelling mistakes. i totaly blame the keyboard. My moral standing has nothing to do with the UKIP issue, but was made on Christian family issues. It appears that ones sexual prefrences are now being stuff down our throats by the people who would be better off keeping the closet doors firmly closed. Why should religious families be dictated to on matters of good honest up bringing, by a few who think its right for them to mis-us an establishment that preaches good moral standers for there own purposes?. What right is it to condem one for a civil offence many years ago and in the same breath, praise the actions of people who are now degenarating our way of life to its lowest level. This may not sit well with a few people but at least i will not be stoped from giving my own personal views like millions of others who share share my comments. We are not a dictatorship YET. I did not hide behind assumed names like the people who commented, what have you to hide i wonder? UKIP-Ron

2:15pm Tue 12 Jun 12

Bernard Righton says...

UKIP-Ron wrote:
Thanks to all for the comments and i do thank the person about the spelling mistakes. i totaly blame the keyboard. My moral standing has nothing to do with the UKIP issue, but was made on Christian family issues. It appears that ones sexual prefrences are now being stuff down our throats by the people who would be better off keeping the closet doors firmly closed. Why should religious families be dictated to on matters of good honest up bringing, by a few who think its right for them to mis-us an establishment that preaches good moral standers for there own purposes?. What right is it to condem one for a civil offence many years ago and in the same breath, praise the actions of people who are now degenarating our way of life to its lowest level. This may not sit well with a few people but at least i will not be stoped from giving my own personal views like millions of others who share share my comments. We are not a dictatorship YET. I did not hide behind assumed names like the people who commented, what have you to hide i wonder?
And we still await your definition of a normal relationship......

Not sure many millions would share your comments or your thoughts Ron, perhaps the ones that do are wearing white pointy hoods??
[quote][p][bold]UKIP-Ron[/bold] wrote: Thanks to all for the comments and i do thank the person about the spelling mistakes. i totaly blame the keyboard. My moral standing has nothing to do with the UKIP issue, but was made on Christian family issues. It appears that ones sexual prefrences are now being stuff down our throats by the people who would be better off keeping the closet doors firmly closed. Why should religious families be dictated to on matters of good honest up bringing, by a few who think its right for them to mis-us an establishment that preaches good moral standers for there own purposes?. What right is it to condem one for a civil offence many years ago and in the same breath, praise the actions of people who are now degenarating our way of life to its lowest level. This may not sit well with a few people but at least i will not be stoped from giving my own personal views like millions of others who share share my comments. We are not a dictatorship YET. I did not hide behind assumed names like the people who commented, what have you to hide i wonder?[/p][/quote]And we still await your definition of a normal relationship...... Not sure many millions would share your comments or your thoughts Ron, perhaps the ones that do are wearing white pointy hoods?? Bernard Righton

10:05pm Tue 12 Jun 12

greatwhiteshark says...

Clear the beach. I smell blood. Homophobic comments from a man who can't type, think or reason? Ron, which century are you 'living' in? Your only purpose in life is to be shark bait. I hope you can swim?
Clear the beach. I smell blood. Homophobic comments from a man who can't type, think or reason? Ron, which century are you 'living' in? Your only purpose in life is to be shark bait. I hope you can swim? greatwhiteshark

Comments are closed on this article.

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