Neil McEvoy party to stand in Police Crime Commissioner Election over lockdown leafletting ‘ban’

Neil McEvoy’s Propel party has announced that it will stand in May’s Police and Crime Commissioner election after being stopped from delivering election leaflets during the pandemic.

The Welsh Government has announced that delivering political leaflets is “not a reasonable excuse to leave home.”

South Wales Police has stated that following Welsh Government clarification, it will now enforce the legislation accordingly.

Cardiff West candidate Neil McEvoy, which recently changed his party’s to Propel name from Welsh National Party, said that the rule was “undemocratic, unjust and unacceptable”.

He added that his party would stand in the South Wales Police PCC election. The incumbent is former Labour First Minister Alun Michael.

The Liberal Democrats have also launched a petition calling on the Welsh Government to allow political leafleting during lockdown.

Ceredigion candidate Cadan ap Tomos said that “banning political leafleting would hand an unfair advantage to the biggest parties with more money and influence”.

‘Credibility’

“The South Wales Police and the Welsh Government seem to have forgotten how a democracy works,” Neil McEvoy said.

“The public elects politicians, they pass laws to be implemented and policed. The police do not have the right to act on the whims on what is now becoming an undemocratic regime.

“I want to know why the South Wales Police will allow the First Minister to pay a private company to deliver his leaflets in Cardiff West, yet will prosecute volunteers posting my leaflets in Cardiff West? What legislation are they relying upon? It is not the legislation I voted on.

“The South Wales Police needs to back right out of politics now, before the lose all credibility and the trust of communities in the region.

“As a result of police interference in the democratic process, Propel has now decided to stand in the South Wales Police Commissioner election. We will not stand back and watch our democracy be eroded like this.

“We’re here to end a virus, not end democratic debate. Today, we are drawing a line. We have opened nominations for a candidate. Propel will stand on the platform of anti-corruption, due process and reviewing miscarriages of justice.”