Mayor Boris Johnson steals credit for Bob Quick’s departure
Boris Johnson lost little time getting himself onto the Today programme this morning to talk about Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick's resignation. One could have been forgiven for thinking the London mayor was in the lead on all this. But not so.
In fact, it appears that, not for the first time, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is well and truly fed up with the mayor over his behaviour in relation to something that was primarily a decision for her and, most importantly, the Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson.
Technically, it is to the Met Police Authority - led by Johnson as mayor - that Quick offered his resignation last night following the fiasco he began by strolling into Downing Street clutching a top secret operational document, available for all to read.
But the wheels had been put in motion yesterday afternoon when Quick met Smith and they agreed his position was untenable. It was then a matter of going through the correct procedures, with the ultimate responsibility falling to Sir Paul.
Yet a breathless Boris suddenly popped up on Today to 'steal' the headlines by saying he had accepted the resignation. Numerous media interviews then followed. Smith, it is fair to say, was not happy.
Meanwhile shadow home secretary Chris Grayling was all over the media admitting there had been "issues" between Quick and the Conservative party ever since last year's controversial Damian Green arrest, which Quick had authorised. At one stage, following a story in the Mail on Sunday about his wife Judith running a wedding car service from their home, Quick suggested there was a Tory dirty tricks campaign against him, but he later retracted the allegation.
Nonetheless, Grayling insisted these "issues" had not affected his view of Quick and he went on to say it was not up to him to demand the cop's resignation.
"Politicians should always be wary about marching in and saying somebody must go," he told Sky News. But he then added that, if Quick was not sacked, the Home Secretary and Met Chief would have to explain why they felt he was up to the job.
All concerned, of course, insist neither politics nor revenge played any part in Quick's departure this morning, but it is difficult not to recall the old saying that revenge is a dish best served cold.
THE MOLE: TERROR COP SCANDAL
FIRST POSTED APRIL 9, 2009
People: Top terror cop Bob Quick resigns
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No surprise to hear Ken Livingstone praising Quick - just the same way Livingstone praised the cops who murdered Jean de Menezes. He'll be working up his speech in praise of the cops who killed Ian Tomlinson right now.
Posted by neil mcgowan at 5:00pm on April 9, 2009
As Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, as Bob Quick works for the Metropolitan Police he quite rightly tendered his resignation letter to the Mayor. Given the current situation, with raids being conducted as a result of the error made by Bob Quick, it was vital that a replacement was made as soon as possible. The recent record of the Metropolitan police such as the death of Ian Tomlinson, the failures and blunders that lead to two serial rapists remaining free long after they should have been apprehended, the raids on the home, constituency and parliamentary office of Damien Green and so on, the Metropolitan Police will be hard-pressed to regain the trust of the general public. This is not the time to indulge Jacqui Smith in petty grandstanding but to get the Met out of politics and back to their real job!
Posted by Manny Goldstein at 8:18am on April 10, 2009
When even the likes of Livingstone become exemplars of Reverse Stockholm Syndrome (so imprisoned by panderers as to internalise their 'values') it might be wise to adopt the ancient Athenian system of very short terms of power. Not infrequently erstwhile rulers would be exiled for their abuses of power - we should be so lucky. And Quick was obviously on his best behaviour, seeking to make a good impression - note the fresh haircut line of his bullneck.
Posted by allan kessing at 8:56am on April 10, 2009
I dont care who sacked the man.The man was useless and prone to putting his foot in it.I have seen him on TV several times carrying papers which were not covered up.He was a typical political copper.If he was in the Army he would be facing a courts martial!
Posted by ROBERT BOYD at 8:46pm on April 10, 2009
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