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Labour PCC hopeful slammed over anti-Brexit stance

A former Government minister who wants to be the West Midlands police commissioner has put himself forward as the anti-Brexit candidate – calling for a second referendum to block a 'no deal' departure.

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Former MP Mike O'Brien has set his stall out as an anti-Brexit candidate in his bid to become PCC

Mike O'Brien is one of four candidates vying for Labour's nomination for the PCC role, which is up for election when incumbent David Jamieson stands down next May.

And the former Warwickshire MP has made his feelings clear on Brexit, warning that if Boris Johnson becomes PM and forces a 'no deal' departure it will "pose a risk to UK security and damage policing".

He has demanded a second referendum or a general election before Mr Johnson "is allowed to put the UK at risk".

His comments have been called "extraordinary" by Walsall North Tory MP Eddie Hughes, who urged Mr O'Brien to focus on policing matters.

"This man, who has not been elected yet, is already questioning a legitimate referendum that has taken place, the result of which has not yet been delivered," said Mr Hughes, who has backed Mr Johnson for Number 10.

"It is probably best that he tries to address the failings of David Jamieson rather than dabble in politics – which I thought he had already given up on."

Mr O'Brien held a number of ministerial positions in the governments of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair during an 18-year stint as an MP, which ended in 2010.

He warned that Britain could become "a magnet for international criminals" if its ability to tackle cross-border crime was hampered by Brexit.

He said a potential lack of access to EU-wide shared criminal databases and the European Arrest Warrant would delay investigations and lead to "a failure to identify offenders".

"Some of these databases are shared because the UK is part of the EU and the EU has established and detailed agreements to enable this to happen. Brexit risks these arrangements," he said.

Mr O’Brien added: “Put simply, if the UK Brexits without real time access to these databases, the government will have failed in its primary duty to protect the security of the UK.

“West Midlands Police needs access to real time information from European databases to protect people.

"If Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister, his threat of ‘No Deal’ poses a serious risk to the security of the UK. Another referendum or a general election must be called before Johnson is allowed to put the UK at risk.”

Labour is set to select its candidate for the PCC election through a members' vote at the end of the month.