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A tough Question Time for Jacqui Smith
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor03.10.08
HOME Secretary Jacqui Smith used an appearance on Question Time to launch a fierce and detailed attack on Boris Johnson for forcing out Sir Ian Blair.
Here is the transcript of what she said.
Were you sidestepped in Sir Ian Blair's resignation?
The first thing to say about Ian Blair is he has actually done a very good job as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. Not only in terms of the job he has done in London, but in his national role as well because the role of the Metropolitan Commissioner in addressing terrorism is as important on the streets of Birmingham as it is on the streets of London. The second point is when you actually ask someone as we do with the Metropolitan Commissioner to do a difficult and demanding job as an elected politician you should give that person the support to do it. The third thing is, as Sir Ian has made clear, it was because the Mayor said on his first day as chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority that he didn't feel he had confidence in Sir Ian that he took the decision to resign, which I accepted when he came to talk to me about it today.
Would you have chosen him for another term?
I don't think Sir Ian had ever suggested he wanted to serve another term but what is important when you are choosing and supporting someone you are asking to do a job like that is you keep party politics out of it. You are careful that the processes that are in place are followed carefully. You need to work alongside people and, frankly, you should put a bit of time and effort into that before you jump to judgment.
So you are powerless in the choice of who runs the biggest force in UK?
No, that's not the case. I've made clear today given that Sir Ian has made the decision to resign that I am starting the process to make sure we get a new Metropolitan Commissioner. As I have said this is a role that is so important, one for London but two for the country as a whole. And it's because that role is so important that I very much hope we will not get into a situation where politicians - of whatever colour - feel that they need to prove themselves through taking action against the person we are asking to do that job. The next person to carry out that difficult job deserves the support not only of the Home Secretary, but of other politicians with whom they have to work.
In response to Lord Heseltine, who criticised Sir Ian's record on the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and being investigated over contracts given to a friend:
There is a process in place for all the allegations you have suggested. The point is that, for whatever reason, the Mayor chose not to respect that process on his first day as chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority to take the decision that he took.
Was he right to allow himself to be pushed out?
If we think it's going to be easier to solve violent crime by criticising and removing our support from the senior police officers that we ask to do difficult jobs, without actually having spent any period of time trying to work alongside somebody, we'll be letting down not just the police but the people they serve as well.
Did you try to persuade Blair to stay? What does it say about your power as Home Secretary that you couldn't insist?
When somebody comes and says to you "I have decided I want to offer my resignation", I don't think it would have been the right thing to do for the people of London or for his national responsibilities to persuade him against what he had decided to do.
Reader views (2)
"And it's because that role is so important that I very much hope we will not get into a situation where politicians - of whatever colour - feel that they need to prove themselves through taking action against the person we are asking to do that job."
Ah ha! Sir IB, the man who had "vote Labour" written on his "police service" cars - Bliar's right hand man. The hypocrisy of Labour should be considered treason . At least Boris has been democratically elected. No doubt the Guardianistas will be furiously screaming about inclusiveness, diversity etc while wringing their hands about their next (right on) "outreach project".
Boris is right to shift this wretched man, but is probably too "right on" for the left to appreciate though. Heaven help this county. As a liberal I will be voting for Cameroon.
I hope the labour party are trodden firmly into the excrement that has dropped out of their pantomime horse rule. I would gladly tread in sh|t to see the back end of these chancers.
Thank you Boris.
- Charlie, Cambridge
Boris was wrong to do what he did, but right in the sense that he judged his man well. If Blair had stood his ground and said: 'Don't try and play politics with a non-political post: you didn't appoint me , you can't sack me, and I'll carry on doing the best I can, working with all parties', he would for once have shown some resolution, and gained respect for it. But he didn't, proving what many have long suspected, that he lacked the grit for the job.
Jacqui Smith has stood her ground well by contrast: but why would she want to persuade a man to stay who's just shown he lacks the bottle for a fight?
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london
