Ian Blair hits back at Boris Johnson

If Boris Johnson really does want to oust Sir Ian Blair – and leaked emails from one of his key aides, reported here yesterday, suggest he does – he is in for a fight. The Metropolitan Police commissioner has issued a clear rebuff to the London Mayor, expressing his concerns about Johnson’s attempt to politicise his role. "There is concern about the politicisation of the office of commissioner," said Blair. "I find that is inappropriate. I will continue to stay in office, because that is my job, to make London safer."

Blair also claimed that Johnson’s election pledge that he would seek powers to hire and fire the commissioner in order to make policing more accountable was unwise. He said that such a move could be a "poor bargain" for the Met because it had national functions, in leading the police fight against terrorism, as well as an international role.

Although he did not mention the leaked emails, which revealed that the deputy mayor Kit Malthouse had sought advice from lawyers about how to suspend Sir Ian, ostensibly because of his links with a businessman who won £3m of Scotland Yard contracts, it was clear Blair felt under siege. When asked if he felt people had "got it in for him", Blair said: "I am just going to say it is a position which attracts a lot of comment."