… from Thursday 6th May now in.
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We had several local elections last week – including for Devon & Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner:
Police Commissioner elections – candidates – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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But it has been a long day of counting – as reported by Daniel Clarke, who has been at the count since before 8am this morning. He reported this at 6.30 this evening:
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Second round needed in Police and Crime Commissioner elections after Alison Hernandez falls short of first round majority
The Conservative candidate gained 49.97 per cent of the vote – short of the 50 per cent needed for a first round win
Alison Hernandez and Gareth Derrick will once again face off in a second round of voting for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Ballots begun to be counted at 9.30am on Monday, but it was nearly nine hours later due to a ‘discrepancy’ in Cornwall when the first round was declared.
Hernandez, the Conservative candidate, fell agonisingly short of winning in the first round, getting 49.97 per cent of the votes. Derrick, the Labour candidate, came second, as he did in 2016, with Brian Blake of the Liberal Democrats in third and Stuart Jackson of the Green Party in fourth.
Second preference votes for Blake and Jackson will now be counted and added to the totals that Hernandez and Derrick gained in round one.
FIRST ROUND VOTE
Brian Blake (Lib Dem) – 88,318
Gareth Derrick (Labour) – 99,894
Alison Hernandez (Conservatives) – 247,173
Stuart Jackson (Green) – 59,242
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And just minutes ago, the final result was declared:
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Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner elections – live updates from the count
The result
Gareth Derrick (Labour) – 146,979
Alison Hernandez (Conservatives) – 275,217
Alison Hernandez is elected
Vote share
Alison Hernandez (65.2%)
Gareth Derrick (34.8%)
Alison Hernandez speaks
Alison Hernandez on what her priorities will be pic.twitter.com/LQ75SDrFXx
— Daniel Clark (@HEDanielClark) May 10, 2021