Pub bombings campaigner in PCC bid
Birmingham pub bombings campaigner Julie Hambleton has announced she is standing for the role of police and commissioner in the West Midlands.
Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 attacks, is standing as an independent candidate in the race to replace retiring Labour PCC David Jamieson.
Announcing her intention to stand at the Drakes Drum pub in Great Barr, she insisted she would not be a "one issue candidate" and vowed to "represent the people".
Ms Hambleton is the spokeswoman for the Justice4the21 campaign group, which demands that the terrorists responsible for the pub bombings are brought to justice.
She said: "I will not be a one issue candidate, although it's obvious that victory will propel the Justice 4 the 21 campaign."
Ms Hambleton added that members of the public had told her they shared her concerns about law and order, feeling "shunned by those in authority" and unsafe, "even in their own homes".
"The public believe the police, particularly senior officers, no longer see them or their concerns as a priority," she said.
In an interview she said she would "represent the people" and would have "no political agenda", but she was unable to confirm any policies.
"If I would be elected and the first thing I would do is to go out in to the community and listen and speak to everybody," she said.
"I'm not part of the establishment and as such there's no one pulling my strings."
The region's next PCC is due to be elected in May 2020. Labour has a shortlist of four candidates, which is due to be whittled down to one in a vote at the end of the month.
As yet no other parties have submitted candidates.
