Former Government minister Mike O'Brien considering PCC tilt
A former Government minister has revealed he is considering running for the role of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
Mike O'Brien held a number of senior ministerial positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown when he was the Labour MP for North Warwickshire from 1992-2010.
Asked if he was considering a bid to be Labour's candidate for PCC, he told the Express & Star: "I'll be thinking about it."
The position is due to become vacant next year when David Jamieson, who has held it since August 2014, steps down.
Formal applications for the post closed on May 12.
Mr O'Brien was a Health Minister during the Stafford Hospital scandal.
He also introduced priority NHS treatment for former service personnel injured in the line of duty, and negotiated a settlement of compensation for Thalidomide victims.
He previously served as an Immigration Minister during the 2001 Hinduja affair which led to the resignation from government of Peter Mandelson.
He lost his seat at the 2010 general election and was unsuccessful in an attempt to reclaim it in 2015.
Coventry councillor Lynnette Kelly is considered the current frontrunner in the race to succeed Mr Jamieson.
She has announced she has been backed by the UK's largest trade union Unison for the role, tweeting: "I am delighted to announce that Unison have endorsed me to be the Labour candidate for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner election."
Ms Kelly is standing down from her post as an Assistant PCC in the West Midlands to focus on her campaign.
She has also been endorsed by Coventry Momentum chair Joe Connor, although not all of the city's group are behind her.
A statement from the group described Ms Kelly as "a controversial figure" in Coventry who was "imposed as a Labour candidate in Sherbourne ward with members being denied the democratic right to choose their own candidate".
She is also accused of being involved in making allegations that led to the long-term suspension of a ward Labour group member, the statement said.
Other Labour applicants for PCC include Tom McNeil, a current strategic advisor to the PCC and former parliamentary candidate, and Unite West Midlands chair James Watkins.
Waheed Saleem, who has recently been appointed an Assistant PCC, is also thought to be considering a bid.
Mr Saleem was a Walsall councillor until 2004, when he was banned for a year over claims he leaked commercially sensitive information concerning the sale of council-owned property in the borough.
He has served on the Strategic Policing and Crime Board since June 2016.
The election for PCC is set to take place in May 2020.
