Ann Barnes, an independent candidate for the role of police commissioner in Kent, claimed the election process was "perverse and not democratic".

"Not giving a mailshot seriously disadvantages independent candidates like me," she told the Today programme.

The vote for the 41 commissioners in England and Wales will take place in November.

A state-funded mailshot, offered at some elections, is not being offered, prompting independent candidates to protest against the rules which they say put them at an unfair disadvantage against those representing political parties.

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