Cheshire's police commissioner has called on local Conservatives to stop "making stuff up" amid a public argument over his work car.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dan Price has been criticised for "billing the taxpayer for a luxury Land Rover Discovery Sport" by local Tory leader Cllr Adrian Waddelove.

The Cheshire West and Chester councillor released a statement on Wednesday (18 February) admonishing the PCC, after an FOI request revealed the costs of a pool car used by PCC Price and his office. 

Citing the PCC's recent decision to increase the police element of council tax in a bid to safeguard a number of PCSO roles, Cllr Waddelove noted upfront car costs of nearly £4,000.

He said: "At a time when front line policing staff are being made redundant and the commissioner has sought extraordinary permission to increase council tax by nearly double the rate of inflation - it beggars belief that the commissioner thinks that billing the taxpayer for a Land Rover is an appropriate use of public money.

"I know residents will be left wondering why the commissioner cannot simply pay for his own car, given that he is already paid £78,400 to fulfil a role that is being scrapped in a few years time. If he has any sense, he would return the car immediately, issue and apology and repay all the costs incurred so far."

PCC Price then hit back in a video on social media, claiming that Cheshire Conservatives have recently made numerous attempts to make it look like he is "up to something dodgy".

Alongside offering a rebuttal to Cllr Waddelove, he pointed to MP Aphra Brandreth's critique of Cheshire's policing priorities during prime minister's questions last month, arguing she "got the numbers completely wrong and really awkwardly".

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He also mentioned MP Esther McVey, stating "she clearly thinks that listening to the public here in Cheshire is a real waste of money". 

Describing them as "busy scratching around for dirt", he said: "And now I've got a local Tory leader in Cheshire West and Chester Council saying that I'm driving around in a flashy taxpayer-funded car. 

"Of course I'm not. It's a pool car. It's used by all of my office. It saves fuel. It supports car sharing. It reduces costs

"So while I'm out delivering rights across Cheshire, leading on phone-free education, getting ex-offenders into real jobs, funding local community projects, I've got these Tories who are busy scratching around for dirt on me."

Whilst acknowledging the need for "transparency and accountability", he said: "You can't just start making stuff up. 

"People are sick of this kind of politics, and it's pretty lame from the party that wasted billions of taxpayers' money on dodgy contracts to their mates and donors during the pandemic. 

"So my message to them is this. We're not all like you. Some of us want to do the right thing and deliver more for the public in Cheshire. 

"You know me, I'm happy to work with anyone who shares that goal. So why don't you stop the wasting of everyone's time, the point scoring, the clickbait headlines, and get on with your jobs."

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