LABOUR may boycott controversial elections for police chiefs in Merseyside and elsewhere – despite fears it would open the door to extremist candidates.

The Daily Post has been told Labour has not yet decided whether to run candidates, after criticising the polls as a £100m waste of money at a time of steep cuts to police budgets.

A boycott could allow charismatic independent candidates – perhaps a former chief constable or a business leader – to step forward without a party label.

Similar discussions are understood to be taking place in the Conservative party, which may opt out of elections in the North.

Voters in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire will elect separate police and crime commissioners next year.

But the polls have been delayed from May until November, triggering fears of a low turn-out and victory for a fringe candidate.

A Labour source said: “No decision has been taken about whether to run candidates in these elections. There is an argument about taking politics out of the oversight of policing.”

Further clues may emerge tomorrow, when Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, announces details of Labour’s independent commission into the future of policing, in her conference speech.