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Smith moves to heal Boris rift over new Met chief
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor15 Jan 2009
JACQUI Smith has vowed to try to reach an agreement with the Mayor on the next Met Commissioner and end their rift over the appointment.
The Home Secretary told the Evening Standard: "It is too important for London and too important for the country for us not to have someone we both agree on from the beginning."
One plan being discussed by officials is for the final interview in the selection process, which began this week, to be conducted jointly by Ms Smith and Boris Johnson. Even if this does not happen, aides say the Home Secretary is almost certain to meet the Mayor when she is ready to make the appointment and to make every effort to ensure that they reach a consensus.
Ms Smith and the Mayor clashed last year over the departure of former Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, who was ousted against her wishes. The Home Secretary said it was "no secret" that she had not approved of the Mayor's role in removing Sir Ian, but that she was determined to ensure that his successor had unchallenged support.
Met Deputy Comissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, who is running the force, is likely to be one of two men selected for final interview.
Sources say that the other place in the run-off is expected to be filled by Sir Hugh Orde, the Northern Ireland police chief, or Birmingham's chief constable, Sir Paul Scott-Lee. The fourth candidate, Merseyside chief constable Bernard Hogan-Howe, is viewed as the outsider in the contest.
Reader views (4)
as i have relatives all over parts of london.londoners need a person that will just concentrate on fighting crime and gang culture.and finally be wise enough to keep labour and especially jacqui smith at arms length if not further.as london is holding the olympics i want visitors to feel safe when visiting london,and not feel scared to leave their hotel room.
- James, leeds,yorkshire, 16/01/2009 09:31
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She probably will lose the applicant's details files somewhere...
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 15/01/2009 18:10
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Surely if that woman gets involved it is going to be wrong?!
- Steveo, London NW1, 15/01/2009 16:11
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London needs a good Comissioner to help the Mayor. We have the Mayor now we really need to sort out the police and get crime dealt with. We need to keep Nu Labor out otherwise the problems will continue. The last comissioners failed as they had too much bagage from Nu Labor. I hope London can do this without them!
- Georgie, Islington, London, 15/01/2009 12:28
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