The count of votes to determine the very first Police and Crime Commissioner for Beds has gone into a second round, as there was no clear first choice candidate.
The contest is now between Labour and Conservative after no candidate gained over 50 per cent of first choice votes.
A decision will now be made based on voters’ second preference, following a second count.
Labour candidate Olly Martins won 27,947 votes, while Conservative candidate Jas Parmar obtained 26,226.
All other candidates and their agents were sent home at about 12.20pm today (November 16), following the announcement by officials.
Mr Parmar told the Gazette: “We knew it was going to go to the wire. I hope whoever gets elected will deliver on their promises, and I include myself in that.”
South West Beds MP Andrew Selous was also present at the count and was full of praise for Mr Parmar.
He told the Gazette: “I’ve enjoyed getting to know Jaz over the last two months and he know’s what’s what and what’s not.
“He’s ex-police, he’s put himself out on the streets in the line of fire – he knows what it’s about. He wouldn’t ask the police to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.
“Jaz is a businessman and has a lot of business connections in the area. He has good instincts and knows this county better than anyone.
“The hope is that whoever is the Commissioner understands how varied Beds is as a county and that will need different types of policing.”
Central Beds Councillor Nigel Young believes that Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorris’ involvement in ITV reality programme ‘I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here’ has had an affect on voters.
He told the Gazette: “Nadine has been very silly, she’s essentially said goodbye to her political career.
“Nadine going into the jungle has had an effect, especially in Mid Beds there will be a backlash against the Conservatives.
“Though you do usually get a Government backlash mid-term, a lot of second voters would have put Labour as their second choice.”
The candidates who were eliminated were Linda Jack (Lib Dems, 11,205), Kevin Carroll (British Freedom Party, 8,675) and Mezanur Rashid (Independent, 8,076).
A decision is expected to be announced at about 5pm today.