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Distracted? I was not and I am not says Met’s Sir Ian Blair in parting shot
Justin Davenport27.11.08
Outgoing Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair delivered a stinging parting attack on Mayor Boris Johnson today.
In his final comments to the Metropolitan Police Authority, he issued a sideswipe at the manner of his effective dismissal by the Mayor last month.
Sir Ian told an authority meeting that when he was called to meet Mr Johnson at City Hall on 1 October, the Mayor accused him of being distracted by a series of controversies.
These included Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur's tribunal case alleging racist and discriminatory behaviour and the award of £3million worth of Met contracts to a friend of Sir Ian.
The Commissioner, who resigned the following day, told the MPA this morning: "I was not [distracted] and I am not."
He said he had encountered controversies before and had seen them disappear. "I knew Tarique Ghaffur would eventually withdraw his allegation," he said. "I knew that the threat of a BPA (Black Police Association) boycott would prove hollow. I know that I will be fully exonerated of any wrongdoing over the issue of contracts."
He made no mention of the Stockwell inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, but went on to say that whoever was appointed the next Commissioner would need the Mayor's"unequivocal" support. Sir Ian said he had been proud to serve the people of London and added: "Nonetheless the revels for me are over."
Speaking outside, Sir Ian said the job of Commissioner had become more political, adding that his successor would need "a copper-bottomed suit".
"The job has always been difficult, but I think the position that has now been reached where the Home Secretary and the Mayor are from different parties is a new dimension," he added.
Earlier, Mr Johnson paid tribute to the Commissioner he had forced out of office just eight weeks earlier.
He said Sir Ian's policing had inspired falling crime rates in London and described him as one of the most "thoughtful leaders" in modern policing. He also paid tribute to his leadership during the 2005 terror attacks on London.
The Met will be run by Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson until a permanent replacement is found early next year.
Reader views (7)
Distracted I was not or am ! Useless I am and was ! The biggest waste of space the Met has had the misfortune to have as top man. He should have slunk off in disgrace but as with the Nu Lab politicians he copies he fully believes hes the badly wronged party. He should have been sacked without a penny in compensation !
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand
Interesting that, when even the man who sacked him, praised him for reducing crime in London - the only two attacks on Ian Blair came from Switzerland and Doncaster where crime is increasing well above national average.
- David Paul, Tunbridge Wells
He was a man with a personal mission to reap the benefits of his position, be accountable for very little and without ever really caring about the meaning of his job or people's who's lives were irreparably devastated by crimes against their families. And for this he gets a monumental payout, lives on, while those who were victims during his tenure, live only with their grief. Boris Johnson, thank you.
- C, essex
A good man I think, his dismissal has shown the nasty side of Boris Johnson. According to the experts I have read he has also been very successful.
- Johnny Fiston-Hewes, London
Is there any chance of him and Tarik Ghaffur starting a private I detective agency in Hawaii or going to hollywood for the remake of the Keystone cops from Scotland Yard.
- Hunsa, Ilford, Uk
Sir Ian is too arrogant for words a vast payoff and then after a holiday into a well paid security job in a bank, for what?
- Jaberwokie3, switzerland
Distracted by his own flatulence, just like those other pillars of society, Beavis and Butthead!
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
