It's official - the Liberal Democrats, until two years ago demonstrably Cornwall's largest political party with all five Members of Parliament, will not contest the election for a Police Commissioner in November.
This decision, taken by the Devon and Cornwall regional executive over the weekend, is likely to irritate many grassroots activists.
The official party line - not wanting to "politicise" the issue of law and order - is one which the Liberal Democrats nationally hope will deflect attention from the dramatic drop in their poll support since the 2010 general election. But several local officials have told me they think this is the wrong decision, believing the whole point of political parties is to organise for and contest elections which are driven by the need to develop public policy.
So far only the Conservative and Labour parties have said they will definitely field candidates in Police Commissioner elections. The Lib Dems are now hoping an "independent" candidate emerges for Devon and Cornwall who they feel they can rally behind.
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