ELECTION 2021 - Tories on the march as ex-Army officer wins Norfolk police commissioner contest

A former soldier has been elected as Norfolk's next police and crime commissioner.

Conservative candidate Giles Orpen-Smellie won the contest late this afternoon after two rounds of counting spread over several hours.

Mr Orpen-Smellie, a former Army officer, defeated Labour candidate Michael Rosen after polling more than 63 per cent of first and second preference votes.

Earlier, he was comfortably ahead of his opponents in the first round which saw three other candidates - the Liberal Democrats' John Crofts, Martin Schmierer for the Green Party and Independent nominee David Moreland - eliminated.

Mr Orpen-Smellie, who will take up the post next week, will serve a three-year term, rather than the usual four years.

That is because the election was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Full results were as follows:

First round: Giles Orpen-Smellie (Conservative) 103,980 votes; Michael Rosen (Labour) 51,056; John Crofts (Lib Dem) 31,666; Martin Schmierer (Green) 23,469; David Moreland (Independent) 20,473.

Second round: Giles Orpen-Smellie 119,994 votes; Michael Rosen 69,552.