Leicestershire residents have called for a by-election after the police and crime commissioner (PCC) defected to Reform UK. Those reacting to the news said they believe that Rupert Matthews should "have the guts" to give the electorate choice over whether they want Reform in charge of their police force. 

The comments follow Mr Matthews' defection to the party led by Nigel Farage from the Conservatives earlier this week. Announcing his new allegiance, he claimed the police are "fighting crime with one hand tied behind their back" and the "dark heart of wokeness" needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system. 

The PCC told the LDRS on Monday (August 4) that neither he nor his plan for Leicestershire Police has changed as a result of the move. He believes that residents voted him in for a second term last year based on his police and crime plan, not because of which party he represents. That plan is his "contract" with the public and he intends to "honour" it, he added. 

Local people feel differently, however, with many echoing calls made by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland branches of the Conservative Party for a by-election to be held following Mr Matthews' defection. 

One said: "The clue is in the words, his 'contract with the public' which as far as I can see he has broken. Those people who voted for him did so on his record as a Tory. 

"Given he has now decided to become a representative of Reform he has a duty to stand for re-election on a Reform manifesto, which common sense dictates has to be different, otherwise what was the point of him defecting." 

A second person added: "If he believes that [he has a mandate because people voted for his plan] he should have the guts to put it to the electorate – If he then wins he has a mandate, if he loses so be it, either way the people will have spoken!" 

Another felt that "switching parties" should "automatically trigger a by-election". 

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Others questioned what the point of the PCC role was in the first place. One described the role as "utterly pointless and money wasting", saying it should be "removed" and funding "diverted to frontline policing" instead. 

"It's a non-job," a second individual said. "Waste of taxpayers money. Maybe a referendum on whether we want a PCC would be money well spent." 

Some did applaud Mr Matthews for his move, however, with one person saying: "Hallelujah. About time someone of power called out the criminal justice system. The liberal, fingers-crossed approach to sentencing has been allowed to go on too long. Time for tough action on crime and put victims first, rather than feeling sorry for criminals." 

A different person said: "The world is waking up. People have had enough, Reform is coming and sorting this woke mess out, whether you like it or not."