PENARTH MP Alun Michael has announced that he will stand down as an MP if he is successful in his bid to be nominated as the Labour candidate for the election for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Wales.

This would trigger a by-election in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency, before the election for the PCC post in November.

The deadline for Labour party members to put themselves forward for nomination as candidate for the PCC post is February 17.

A ‘One Member One Vote’ ballot will be taken by party members to select their candidate in May, with the ballot conducted by the Electoral Reform Society in conjunction with Police Authority Area boundaries.

Mr Michael announced that he would put himself forward for the Labour nomination in last week’s Penarth Times, but has now confirmed that he will stand down before the November election for the PCC position if he is successful in becoming the Labour candidate. He added that if he wins the nomination, he would discuss with Welsh Labour and the constituency party when would be a good time to stand down.

This week he told the Penarth Times that he had received ‘very positive’ feedback from people about his decision to put himself forward.

"It’s very pleasing to know that the support is there," he said.

"There has generally been a very positive reaction from a wide range of people."

Mr Michael’s bid for the role has been endorsed by former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, and Penarth AM Vaughan Gething said: "I think he would be an incredibly good candidate for the role and I’m delighted to be able to support him."

The election for Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales will take place on November 15.

ELECTION FACTS

IN the 2010 general election, Alun Michael (17,262 votes) retained his Labour seat with a majority of 4,709. That was down on his 2005 majority of 9,237.

In 2010, Conservative candidate Simon Hoare increased the Tory vote in Cardiff South & Penarth to 12,553 votes; whilst Liberal Democrat candidate Dominic Hannigan also increased his party’s share with 9,875 votes.

Plaid Cymru candidate Farida Aslam polled 1,851 votes, a slight drop on the party’s 2005 performance.