Cheshire PCC defends taxpayer-funded Land Rover

Cheshire's Labour Police and Crime Commissioner has defended his office's use of a pool car, after criticism by opposition politicians.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Conservatives on Cheshire West and Chester Council shows that the leasing and servicing costs of the hybrid Land Rover Discovery Sport are £6,521.50 in the current financial year, on top of a one-off initial payment of £3,912.90.

Adrian Waddelove, the Conservative group leader on CWAC, called for Dan Price to return the car and "repay all the costs incurred so far".

Dan Price said the vehicle is used by all staff in his office and it saves fuel, supports car sharing and was made by a local manufacturer in Halewood on Merseyside.

The FOI response, shared with the BBC, shows that the vehicle costs £631.91 per month in leasing and £20.24 in maintenance.

There was also £460.65 spent on petrol from June to November 2025 as well as £51.42 on electric changing

The FOI also shows that 4,373 miles were driven during the period, with 2,736 of the miles driven by the PCC which is 63%.

It said that while the PCC was the named driver, on "many occasions" he was accompanied by other members of his office, and that nine members of staff have driven the car during the period.

Adrian Waddelove said it "beggars belief that the commissioner thinks billing the taxpayer for a Land Rover is an appropriate use of public money".

He also highlighted that the PCC had received permission to increase the force's share of council tax above the usual rate.

"In his recent budget consultation, the commissioner highlighted how the policing budget in Cheshire was under pressure and that the budget was under rigorous review," he said.

"Yet once again, we have seen that when it comes to spending personal to the commissioner – that all goes out the window."

But in a video posted on social media, Dan Price criticised the claims.

He said that in the last few weeks, Conservative politicians in Cheshire had been "trying to make it look like I'm up to something dodgy".

In response to Adrian Waddelove's comments, he said: "He's 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 my office, it saves fuel, it supports car sharing, it reduces costs. And it's made from a local manufacturer in Halewood."

Dan Price, who is in the running to be Labour's candidate for mayor of Cheshire and Warrington, said there were Conservatives who were "busy scratching round for dirt on me".

"I am all for transparency and accountability, but you can't just start making stuff up, people are sick of this kind of politics."

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