Met chief faces confidence vote

Members of London's police watchdog are to hold a vote of confidence in the UK's most senior officer.

The extraordinary meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority's 23 members is the most important since its inception in 2000.

It follows the conviction of the force for breaching health and safety laws over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005.

An Old Bailey jury found the Metropolitan Police endangered the public as officers hunted on-the-run suicide bombers in the aftermath of the failed July 21 attacks.

It will be difficult for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to continue her unstinting support of Sir Ian if he loses the vote.

The Commissioner has so far received the backing of Prime Minster Gordon Brown and the vociferous support of London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

But his critics, led by shadow home secretary David Davis, have repeatedly said his position is untenable in the wake of the Stockwell failures.

Elected members of the London Assembly dealt a hammer blow to Sir Ian earlier this month when a majority of members agreed a vote of no confidence.

And the belated publication of an independent inquiry into the death of Mr de Menezes handed his opponents even more critical material.