THE race to become North Yorkshire’s first police and crime commissioner has accelerated after the Conservative Party eliminated four potential candidates from its shortlist.

City of York Council Tory leader Ian Gillies, Sherburn-in-Elmet councillor Mike Jordan, Catterick Bridge councillor and Leeming Bar Services boss Carl Les, and Afghanistan veteran Colonel Father Andrew Lloyd are no longer in the running for the post following a vote by senior North Yorkshire Conservatives.

Coun Gillies said he remained a “reserve candidate” until the final stage of the selection process next Saturday.

The daughter of a hill farmer will now go head-to-head with the boss of a construction training firm in a bid to become the party’s candidate.

Mother-of-two Julia Mulligan, who runs a Leeds marketing agency, and Thirsk-based Super Skills chief executive Peter Walker, a former North Yorkshire deputy chief constable, will present their manifestos to party members at next Saturday’s meeting in Knaresborough before a secret ballot.

Mrs Mulligan, who made an unsuccessful attempt to win the Leeds North West seat at the last General Election, was unavailable for comment.

It is understood she was selected as a finalist for the Conservatives due to her business background.

Mr Walker said he would champion victims, strengthen police links to the community and restore the force’s pride following a string of scandals.

He said: “This is about giving local people real power over a key service that keeps them safe.”

City of York Council’s former deputy leader, Ruth Potter, who is a member of the North Yorkshire Police Authority, has been selected to stand as the Labour candidate.

The best-selling novelists and former North Yorkshire police officers GP Taylor and Mike Pannett have both expressed an interest in running as independent candidates in the election on Thursday, November 15. The winner of the election will replace the county’s police authority from Thursday, November 22.