Labour candidate Alan Billings elected as new South Yorkshire PCC

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Labour party’s candidate Dr Alan Billings has won the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) by-election on Friday.

Dr Billings has won with just over 74,060 votes despite a surge in support for the U.K. Independence party, whose candidate Jack Clarkson came second with 46,883 votes. However, the overall turnout dropped to 14.88%.

Dr Billings replaces the former Labour commissioner Shaun Wright, who stepped down following pressure over the Jay Report revelations that more than 1,400 children had been exploited by gangs of men in Rotherham. Mr Wright had been held responsible for children’s services on Rotherham council at the time some of the abuse took place during 2005 and 2010.

After party’s victory, a senior Labour source has said despite Ukip leader Nigel Farage’s claim and intention to put his tanks on Labour’s lawn, the party took them on and won.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has congratulated the newly elected South Yorkshire PCC through tweet.

After winning the contest, Dr Billings has stated: “In political terms it brings the Ukip advance to a shuddering halt in South Yorkshire and I think that they’re deeply disappointed to do so badly.

“That’s very gratifying for us because I think that if we can turn the tide here we can turn it in other places as well.

“So (it represents) a message of huge encouragement for the Labour Party and absolute disappointment for Ukip.”

He has added: “I’m very pleased. It’s been very, very hard fought. Given the circumstances it’s very gratifying that the Labour Party is able to re-establish itself in South Yorkshire as a credible force.”

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