by political editor Paul Francis

An independent candidate hoping to contest the election to become Kent's first elected police commissioner has dropped out of the race saying he could not raise the £5,000 deposit needed.

Ian Driver, a Thanet independent councillor, had hoped to have his name on the ballot paper in November when the election is held.

But he has announced he is quitting the race just weeks before it takes place.

He blamed the difficulties facing independent candidates when it comes to raising the deposit, echoing criticisms made by other independent candidates about the rules.

In a statement on his election Facebook page, he writes: "Ian is withdrawing his candidacy for this post as he has been unsuccessful in raising the necessary funds to go any further. He has asked me to thank all those that have cared enough to visit this page and leave their comments of support."

Mr Driver said the odds were stacked against independent candidates who lacked a party machinery to help with fund-raising.

"The government has set the bar too high," he said.

Mr Driver, who manages the Thanet Citizens Advice Bureau, recently triggered a debate when he called for drugs to be legalised and admitted he was a recreational user of cannabis.

He argued teenagers sharing a cannabis joint were less dangerous
than motorists who used their mobile phones while driving.

"It's my view that the idiot entering the roundabout at speed with one
hand on the steering wheel and the other holding his mobile phone poses an infinitely greater threat to the public wellbeing than a couple of teenagers sharing a cannabis spliff."