The Guardian:
Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan police commissioner, today announced that he is to step down after losing the support of the mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
Blair said he would have liked to continue as Britain's most senior policeman until his contract expired in 2010. But he said that at a meeting yesterday Johnson had told him in a "pleasant but determined" way that he wished to see a "change of leadership".
"Without the mayor's backing I do not think I can continue in the job," Blair told a news conference.
Johnson paid tribute to Blair's record in cutting crime in London but said it was time for "new leadership" in the force.
The mayor said there was "no particular story or allegation that was uppermost in our considerations.
"He and I agreed that this was an opportunity – with me taking over the Metropolitan Police Authority chairmanship – for a clean break and a new start for policing in London."
This should have happened months ago when the Met was blamed of H&S flaws.
My worry is about how partisan politics has 'interfered' with his decision.
Does this make London safer - I ask?
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