An unsuccessful police and crime commissioner (PCC) candidate has claimed the election was a "scam" and described the winning party as a "failing autocratic imposter".

Liberal Democrat Tim Bearder lost out on the PCC role to Conservative incumbent Matthew Barber, coming third in the race for the Thames Valley position, with Labour candidate Tim Starkey coming a close second.

Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire are the areas covered by the Thames Valley PCC who is responsible for holding police forces to account.

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Speaking after the loss, Mr Bearder said: "This is a sorry day for the people of the Thames Valley.

Bicester Advertiser: Tim Bearder.Tim Bearder. (Image: Ed Nix.)

"We voted for a Police and Crime Commissioner, someone to uphold the fairness and justice, but instead we ironically witnessed a blatant act of disenfranchisement perpetrated in front of our eyes.

"The Tories changed the electoral system and in doing so have saved their candidate. What a scam! It is clear now the majority of people in the Thames Valley don’t want the Tories running their police or running their council.

"They should read the writing on the wall and hold General Election and stop clinging onto power through chicanery and duplicity like some failing autocratic imposter."

The comments were made on X (formerly known as Twitter) and in an interview with the Oxford Mail the Liberal Democrat later said he didn't "understand why people were not more angry" and was "pretty certain we wouldn't have Matthew Barber in place under the old system".

Bicester Advertiser: Thames Valley Police outside the Oxford Union.Thames Valley Police outside the Oxford Union. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Mr Bearder added: "It should anger people.

"The Conservatives are gerrymandering the system at every level.

"One has to ask why they changed the system from one which worked well for years to a first past the post one."

The previous system referred to was a single transferrable vote (STV) system which would see candidates awarded for being a second-choice preference.

Mr Bearder clarified he was "really pleased with the elections" and thought "we put up a really good campaign".

Speaking after the vote, Labour candidate Mr Starkey said: "It was a very close contest in which the Conservative, Mr Barber, beat me by 0.5 per cent.

Bicester Advertiser: Tim Starkey.Tim Starkey.

"I wish him well in the job.

"Sadly, the Lib Dem message that they were the challengers and that Labour was 'out of the race' was a distraction from the real issues - such as tackling knife crime or domestic abuse.

"I think there is something to be said for a voting system which requires candidates to appeal beyond their base, though that is best calmly examined at a later date, once the dust has settled."

Mr Starkey had also engaged in a lively conversation on X with Mr Bearder in which the former said: "I’ve never suggested the Lib Dems shouldn’t stand, I’ve defended your right to stand and said I respect people voting Lib Dem.

"I do agree with you about how PCC elections should return to STV."

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Mr Barber said: "Tim’s (Bearder) obviously disappointed that he lost.

Bicester Advertiser: Matthew Barber.Matthew Barber.

"People need to be a bit more magnanimous in defeat.

"The reality is we live in a first past the post system."