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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blair denies he is to be ousted | Blair denies he is to be ousted |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has denied reports that he is to be ousted from Scotland Yard when his contract expires in 2010. | |
| Sir Ian told reporters: "The report of my death is an exaggeration." | Sir Ian told reporters: "The report of my death is an exaggeration." |
| His contract as commissioner runs until the end of 2010 and newspaper reports suggested it would not be renewed. | His contract as commissioner runs until the end of 2010 and newspaper reports suggested it would not be renewed. |
| It is being alleged he will formally be told about the decision in writing this week but Sir Ian said he had not yet received notice from the commission. | It is being alleged he will formally be told about the decision in writing this week but Sir Ian said he had not yet received notice from the commission. |
| He said: "I have a job to do - I am getting on with it and will continue to do so." | He said: "I have a job to do - I am getting on with it and will continue to do so." |
| Scotland Yard said in a statement that no discussions had taken place about his contract. | Scotland Yard said in a statement that no discussions had taken place about his contract. |
| "The commissioner still has 18 months to serve on his original contract and has had no discussions with anyone about this being extended and has received no written correspondence on this matter," the statement read. | "The commissioner still has 18 months to serve on his original contract and has had no discussions with anyone about this being extended and has received no written correspondence on this matter," the statement read. |
| 'No basis' | |
| Sir Ian said a story in the Times, which reports that he will be told in writing this week that his contract will not be renewed when it expires in February 2010, "has no basis in fact". | |
| He said he did not expect to enter into talks about a possible extension of his term until the middle of next year at the earliest. | |
| A Metropolitan Police Authority spokesman said no letters had been or were about to be sent in the case of Sir Ian and that since the commissioner's role is a royal appointment, input would be sought from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. | |
| A spokesman for Home Office said: "The Home Secretary has full confidence in Sir Ian Blair and the Home Office has been involved in no discussions of this nature. | |
| "Sir Ian Blair has a year and a half of his contract to run and it is far too early to be making decisions about whether or not it should be extended." | |
| The head of the Met leads 35,000 people and has responsibility for national counter-terrorism and royalty protection. | The head of the Met leads 35,000 people and has responsibility for national counter-terrorism and royalty protection. |