Crisis at Scotland Yard as Met chief's deputy is forced to issue loyalty pledge

In an unprecedented move, Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson said it was wrong to suggest that he and Sir Ian were on a 'virtual war footing'.

He spoke out following reports that an extraordinary rift has developed between Britain's two most senior police officers.

Scroll down for more...

Their relationship is said to have deteriorated after Sir Ian was 'bounced' by his deputy into waiving a £25,000 performance bonus.

Mr Stephenson turned down his own annual bonus, effectively forcing Sir Ian to do the same.

The Commissioner was said to have felt 'greatly undermined' and sent Mr Stephenson a furious handwritten letter, effectively accusing him of disloyalty.

Yesterday Mr Stephenson, who hopes to succeed Sir Ian as head of the Metropolitan Police, issued a statement denying they had fallen out.

He said he was 'saddened and concerned by many of the comments ... about both Sir Ian Blair and the distorted impression it gives of the management of the Met'.

He insisted: "Sir Ian has never accused me of being disloyal and we have certainly not been on a "virtual war footing for months" as is claimed.

"To suggest otherwise is nonsense and we continue to enjoy a very strong working relationship."

Well-placed sources insist, however, that the relationship has become increasingly tense.

Earlier this year Mr Stephenson raised concerns with a senior police authority official about Sir Ian's drinking habits at official receptions.

The pair are known to have had a heated exchange over the award of a multi-million building contract for the Met's Safer Neighbourhoods programme.

Then they disagreed over the bonus.

Mr Stephenson insisted it would be inappropriate for the two top men to receive the payouts when the Met is embroiled in court proceedings over the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Chief Inspector of Constabulary, is said to be 'deeply concerned' about the turmoil at the top of Scotland Yard.

Behind the scenes, Home Office officials have drawn up an unofficial shortlist of candidates to succeed Sir Ian on a temporary basis in the event of him being forced to step down. They believe a 'big hitter' from an outside force is needed to take the helm before a permanent appointment is made.

Sir Ian is due to retire in January 2010, but speculation is mounting that he could be pushed out next month.

Following a string of gaffes and errors of judgment, a number of members of the Metropolitan Police Authority are threatening to support a no-confidence vote in the Commissioner. Critically, they include members who have previously been loyal to Sir Ian.

One Tory member, Tony Arbour, said yesterday: "The MPA is constantly being distracted by controversy over the Commissioner and his activities while what we need to be doing is getting on with making London a safer place."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone leapt to the defence of Sir Ian, saying he had been the victim of 'politicians conspiring against the Met'.

He said: "Politicians are skulking around in plots against the Commissioner, and by extension the Met as a whole, while crime in London is falling and police numbers are at record levels."

Although crime figures and detection rates have improved under Sir Ian, there have been persistent claims that he lacks the authority to run the Yard.

Critics say his management style is weak and his team of senior officers 'dysfunctional'.

Last year two of his most senior lieutenants, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur and Deputy Assistant

Commissioner Brian Paddick threatened the Met with legal action.

During his troubled reign as Commissioner, Sir Ian nearly lost his job after it emerged that he secretly recorded phone conversations with the Attorney General and police watchdog officials. The police authority said his conduct was 'totally unacceptable'.

He was widely criticised after questioning why the Soham killings of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman had attracted so much media interest.

Last month the force's watchdog queried his ability following an official report into the aftermath of the shooting of Mr de Menezes.

Sir David Normington, Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, warned Sir Ian last year to stay out of trouble or risk losing the support of Downing Street.

The Commissioner's supporters, however, say he is determined to stay. One said: 'He is aware people may be plotting against him but he has no intention of quitting'.