Mayor rejects Blair row criticism

London mayor Boris Johnson has defended his role in the resignation of Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had accused the Tory mayor of acting without authority by forcing Sir Ian out for political reasons.

Mr Johnson described the claim as "barking" and said he consulted widely before asking him to go.

Sir Ian announced his resignation on Thursday, citing a lack of support from Mr Johnson.

He has faced controversies but said he was not going because of any failures.

The new mayor made clear... he wished there to be a change of leadership at the Met Sir Ian Blair Blair resigns: Police officers' views Sign of things to come?

It has emerged that on his first day as the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority on Wednesday, Mr Johnson told Sir Ian the force needed fresh leadership.

She reacted angrily to the way the resignation had been handled and suggested Mr Johnson did not understand the nature of the role of commissioner.

Conservatives have criticised Ms Smith for repeatedly backing Sir Ian but Mr Johnson described talk of a plot to oust the commissioner as "completely barking", saying there was "no party political element to this."

Mr Johnson said: "I came to this conclusion after a great deal of thought and after consulting many, many people.

"I felt it was an opportunity for someone else to give stability and new leadership and greater operational effectiveness to the Metropolitan Police."

HOME SECRETARY'S LETTERS Jacqui Smith's letter to Sir Ian Blair [40KB] Jacqui Smith's letter to Mayor Boris Johnson [48KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

Ex-home secretary David Blunkett told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that the Conservatives had long wanted to "get rid" of Sir Ian.

But he said being chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority did not give the mayor autonomy to force out the commissioner.

"The authority weren't involved, the home secretary wasn't involved. There was only one man involved in making that decision and that was Boris Johnson," said Mr Blunkett.

The formal procedure for removing the commissioner of Britain's biggest police force is that the authority must seek the home secretary's approval.

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Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said Mr Johnson had not forced Sir Ian to resign - nor had he the power to do so - but he had indicated his lack of confidence in the commissioner. It was a sentiment he understood, Mr Grieve added.

Ms Smith told BBC's Question Time that party politics should be kept out of the matter.

Lord Mackenzie, a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, said the manner of Sir Ian's departure raised a number of questions and it was important not to "politicise the police".

If the Mayor of London - of which ever party - had a veto against the appointment of the commissioner, it would put us on "very dangerous ground," he added.

However, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the resignation was "long overdue".

APPOINTING A COMMISSIONER Shortlisting by Home Office officials and MPA chair Candidates interviewed by MPA panel, who give the home secretary their recommendations Home secretary interviews candidates and asks mayor's views Home secretary must 'have regard' to mayor and MPA's views before making recommendation to the Queen Joint announcement by Home Office and MPA Source: Metropolitan Police Authority (based on the previous appointment)

Sir Ian's tenure as head of Britain's biggest police force started confidently with reforms including neighbourhood policing and a more diverse workforce, and he has presided over falling crime in the capital.

But he has been dogged by a string of controversies, including the shooting dead by police of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who was mistaken for a suicide bomber.

It later emerged he had recorded a telephone conversation with the attorney general without asking his permission.

In 2006, Met officers shot and injured a man while arresting two brothers who were later cleared of involvement in terrorism.

Recently, Sir Ian has faced criticism over the racism row involving the Met's most senior Asian officer Tarique Ghaffur.

And Metropolitan Police Authority auditors are in the process of examining Scotland Yard contracts given to consultancy firm Impact Plus, run by a friend.

Announcing his resignation, Sir Ian said: "I am resigning not because of any failures of my service and not because the pressures of the office and the many stories that surround it are too much...

"However, at a meeting on Wednesday the new mayor made clear, in a very pleasant and determined way, that he wished there to be a change of leadership at the Met."

Sir Ian will step down on 1 December.

His deputy, Sir Paul Stephenson, is understood to be the mayor's favoured candidate to take over the job.

Ken Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, has refused to rule himself out of the running to replace Sir Ian, who he said had a "distinguished" career record.

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