It’s confirmed: Sir Ian Blair is offski. The world heard it here first at 2.10pm – we pipped Iain Dale to it by about a minute. We ran it as a rumour. The Times and The Sun followed with firmer reports about ten minutes later. See we offer it all here – the best coffee and the hottest gossip.
And there’s more. Boris doesn’t have the powers to sack Blair but after today’s Daily Mail splash he applied as much pressure as he could, including threats of what would happen when he took over chairing the MPA, which he will soon. Ian Blair went running to Jacqui Smith for protection, but she told him to forget it.
So now the favourites to take over: Sir Hugh Orde, currently Chief Constable at the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He’s ex-Met. Next Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Merseyside chief constable and finally Norman Bettison from West Yorkshire.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in