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A candidate to become Gwent’s next police and crime commissioner has said she will step down from her council leader job if elected.

Jane Mudd, who leads Newport City Council, has been selected as the Labour candidate for next year’s police and crime commissioner election.

The incumbent, Labour’s Jeff Cuthbert, will step down from the role at the next election having served two terms.

Cllr Mudd told Newport City Council colleagues on Tuesday that it would be “impossible” to continue in both roles if she is elected in May.

“If successful at the election in May, then of course it would be impossible to lead the council and to take on the PCC role, and be effective in both,” she told a Newport City Council meeting.

If successful in the PCC vote, “I will at the AGM, also in May, and down as leader of the city council”, she told the chamber.

Police and crime commissioners are appointed to oversee police forces and hold chief constables to account. 

Current Gwent commissioner Mr Cuthbert has been in post since 2016 but has signalled his intention to step down at the end of his current term.

The former Labour politician served as the Assembly Member for Caerphilly in the Senedd between 2003 and 2016.

Following the announcement of her candidacy, Cllr Mudd said: “I am delighted to have been selected by the Labour party to represent the party in the 2024 police and crime commissioner election.

“At this stage in the process I am a candidate, in the meantime I continue to work with my administration to deliver our Labour commitments to the people of Newport.”

Cllr Mudd became leader of Newport City Council in 2019.