Yard chief faces no confidence vote over claims he wanted to take £25,000 bonus

Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority say they will push for a vote at a meeting this week amid growing concern about the leadership of Sir Ian, who has been in the post since February 2005.

Scotland Yard chief Sir Ian Blair has been "bounced" by his deputy into waiving his right to a £25,000 performance bonus, it emerged.

The Met Commissioner's relationship with Paul Stephenson is said to have "deteriorated sharply" after he belatedly discovered his No. 2 had formally refused to be considered for his own bonus.

Sir Ian - who initially thought he should be considered for such a payment - then had no option but to tell his police authority he wished to waive his right to a bonus.

One Yard source said Sir Ian was "off his trolley" to let it be known he would consider taking a performance bonus after such a troubled time.

In an extraordinary move, he then sent a furious handwritten letter to Mr Stephenson, effectively accusing him of disloyalty.

Mr Stephenson is said to have rejected the allegation, insisting it would be a public relations disaster to accept such a payout when the Met is embroiled in criminal proceedings over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

The feud has sparked claims of a new leadership crisis at the top of the force and further questions about Sir Ian's judgment.

It is understood his relationship with Mr Stephenson has become increasingly tense following a series of disagreements this year.

Earlier this year the Deputy Commissioner expressed concerns about Sir Ian's drinking habits at official receptions.

They have also fallen out over the awarding of a multi-million-pound building contract for the Met's much-vaunted Safer Neighbourhoods programme. An investigation has been launched into the tendering process used.

The latest bout of infighting raises new questions about Sir Ian's authority at the Met, currently on trial at the Old Bailey over alleged safety breaches in the run-up to the killing of Mr de Menezes.

Critics of Sir Ian, whose salary last year was £228,000, accuse him of being "arrogant", "paranoid" and "self-centred".

Under nationally agreed guidelines, chief officers are entitled to be considered for pay-related bonuses each year if they meet performance targets such as cutting crime and recruiting more ethnic minority officers.

The payments are not automatic and senior officers are entitled to waive their entitlement.

A senior Met source said: "On paper Sir Ian is probably entitled to a performance bonus.

"But given the controversies which have engulfed his reign, it would be poor judgment in the extreme for him to accept such a payout - especially when the Stockwell case has yet to be resolved.

"He was bounced by Mr Stephenson into formally declaring that he did not wish to be considered for a bonus."

Another Yard source said: "It is quite extraordinary that anyone, in anyone's judgment, however good performance was, could think of a bonus at a time when we are on trial for killing someone."

This week Sir Ian will present a "half-term" report on his force's achievements since succeeding Lord Stevens as in February 2005. It is not expected to dwell on the gaffes and controversies which have undermined his reign.

They have included secretly recording phone conversations with the Attorney General and three police watchdog officials.

Sir Ian was criticised after questioning why the killings of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman attracted so much media interest. He has also been accused of being too close to New Labour.

One senior Yard officer said last night: "There is a lot of anger that Sir Ian's judgment has been called into question yet again. It is detracting from the day-to-day job of running the Met."

Sir Ian is due to retire in January 2010. Should he be forced to step down before then, it is widely expected that Sir Hugh Orde, the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, will be the front-runner to take over.

Supporters of Mr Stephenson fear he has been tainted by the controversies surrounding Sir Ian.

"He is capable chief officer but it is likely the Home Office will want a new broom to sweep clean when Sir Ian leaves," said a Yard insider.

Scotland Yard said: "Each year both the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner are entitled to be considered for a pay-related bonus.

"This matter was discussed and both decided not to put themselves forward for a bonus payment this year.

"They have both made it clear that there has been no blazing row and they continue to enjoy a very strong working relationship."