Michael Mates seeks nomination for Hampshire police commissioner

A strong shortlist is seeking to be the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 

It includes Roger Ainsley, a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy, Christopher Brannigan, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Scots Dragoon, Cllr Donna Jones, a magistrate and Portsmouth councillor, Cllr Melville Kendall of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Sean Woodward, the leader of Fareham Borough Council and Michael Mates, the former Member of Parliament in Hampshire for 36 years from Winchester.

The final winner will be chosen at a meeting on of Conservative members in Hook on 5th July.

Mates is the best known of the finalists and yet again for a former Minister to show interest is a measure that unlike being a Police Authority chairman the job of police commissioner has real power.

But Mates would also be a controversial choice. He played a key role in undermining the premiership of Margaret Thatcher acting a lieutenant to Michael Heseltine.

Later on, in 1993, Mates had to resign as Northern Ireland Minister over his links to fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir. Mates sent Nadir a watch with the inscription:

Don't let the buggers get you down.

So by his conduct Mates also undermined John Major.

Nadir's trial is now finally underway.