Snowmail: Met chief stands down
Updated on 02 October 2008
On tonight's programme.
Greetings all. Tomomail here. And suddenly we are not leading on the economy for once. And that, my friends, is probably good news for the economy. Though of course everything could yet change between now and seven.
Sir Ian Blair, the most senior police officer in the UK, has resigned. He's fingered the London Mayor Boris Johnson as the reason. The mayor had made it clear that the commissioner, so close to new Labour, did not enjoy his confidence, and he probably had the votes lined up to carry a vote of no confidence. According to Sir Ian the home secretary was reluctant to accept his resignation.
Jacqui Smith then popped up confirming that and giving him her continuing support.
So it's a coup by the mayor all right, no doubting that. But from the outset and the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Met became embroiled in concerns around that and then various race rows.
The perception among some - perhaps Boris Johnson - was that the force was consumed by internal politics.
The commissioner drew attention to improvements in neighbourhood policing, reduced crime and increased detection in what was "the proudest task of my life".
But ultimately the question is: who runs the Met? The mayor or the home secretary? Is Boris Johnson wrong to effectively boot him out just because he's new Labour? Or is Mr Blair wrong to have nailed his political colours so obviously to the mast?
Do we really want to live in a place (it's widely known as the USA) where such public officials and leaders (we hope) simply make their exit as soon as the new bloke comes into City Hall?
So plenty to talk about. And I'm told that Ken Livingstone, for one, ain't happy and is coming in live to tell me why not.
Boris Johnson made a statement this afternoon but will not be doing any interviews.
Fight for the right to die
Also tonight, when her condition becomes unbearable she wants her husband to help her die. Debbie Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis, brought her landmark case to the high court today in an effort to clarify the law on assisted suicide.
At the moment, in England and Wales it's a crime punishable by up to 14 years in jail. But Mrs Purdy says when she feels ready, her husband should be allowed to help her visit a euthanasia facility in Switzerland without facing prosecution.
Do join me here in London and Jon Snow in Washington at seven on four.
