Sir Ian Blair

London's police chief faces a no confidence vote at the Metropolitan Police Authority meeting today. The odds are that he'll survive, though Paul Linford thinks he should go.

"To base one’s view of this matter on the internal political ramifications for the Met, or even on the ramifications for policing in London, is to lose sight of a much more important issue of principle - the fact that restoring trust in public life requires that those at the top start taking responsiblity for their actions. Sir Ian Blair’s removal - and in my view it’s a matter of when, not if - may well result in him being replaced by a more conservative figure - a 'copper’s copper' as they are known in the shorthand. But if that helps restore a culture of accountability to our public life, it will ultimately be a larger victory for the liberal-left."

I respect Paul's view. But as Peter Wilby points out:

"Blair has tried to bring a degree of social and racial justice to London's policing. This, according to the press, is 'political'. Police chiefs who are unusually keen to stop reckless motorists endangering life are also 'political' and even 'fanatical' and, therefore, fit to be compared with the Taliban. Conventional demands for tougher laws and longer sentences against yobs and burglars, on the other hand, are non-political. Hence, Blair, unlike other police chiefs who make mistakes (or preside over mistakes by their officers), is fair game."

Of course, there are other, less progressive, aspects to Blair's leadership - supporting longer detention-without-charge, for instance. I'm still torn on the issue. What I am clear about is that if he survives I'll enjoy watching his hard right opponents seethe.

P.S. What a hoot to see Telegraph thread seethers heaping scorn on William Bratton for saying Blair should stay. Bratton, of course, was New York's police chief under Giuliani's vaunted "zero tolerance" policy and has become a poster boy for Telegraph columnist Janet Daley, she who is forever chortling at "liberal" law and order remedies. Tee hee.

Comments

[jameshigham]

Paul Linford notwithstanding, he won't go - too shored up and he can spill the beans about 7/7.

[Dan Martin]

2 Discs lost, Man resigns, end of civilisation as we know it.

1 Completely innocent Man shot and then has (late) reputation beshmirched, no-one resigns.

Oh God, please wake me up from this nightmare.

[DaveHill]

And just to compound your troubles, Dan, some people say that God does not exist!

[Dan Martin]

Yeah, I'm one of 'em. It's purely an exclamation. Great blog by the way. Was a long time lurker @ Temperama.