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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| New Met chief 'not from abroad' | New Met chief 'not from abroad' |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has ruled out appointing anyone from overseas to be the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has ruled out appointing anyone from overseas to be the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. |
| Her views are outlined in a letter to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, which has been seen by BBC News. | Her views are outlined in a letter to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, which has been seen by BBC News. |
| It had been rumoured that Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton might be a candidate for the role. | It had been rumoured that Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton might be a candidate for the role. |
| Ms Smith also dismisses Mr Johnson's suggestion of delaying the appointment of a permanent successor. | Ms Smith also dismisses Mr Johnson's suggestion of delaying the appointment of a permanent successor. |
| Last week Mr Johnson wrote to Ms Smith saying he wanted greater involvement in the selection process. | Last week Mr Johnson wrote to Ms Smith saying he wanted greater involvement in the selection process. |
| 'Proper process' | 'Proper process' |
| But Ms Smith makes clear in the letter that she will make the final decision by recommending a name to the Queen. | But Ms Smith makes clear in the letter that she will make the final decision by recommending a name to the Queen. |
| She says: "I am clear that we need an exceptional top police officer, who should be a UK citizen." | She says: "I am clear that we need an exceptional top police officer, who should be a UK citizen." |
| "I cannot agree that it would be in the interests of Londoners, and of UK citizens in general, to leave the Met without a permanent Commissioner for any longer than is necessary for a proper selection process to be carried out. | "I cannot agree that it would be in the interests of Londoners, and of UK citizens in general, to leave the Met without a permanent Commissioner for any longer than is necessary for a proper selection process to be carried out. |
| "I would make the decision on who to recommend to Her Majesty," she adds. | "I would make the decision on who to recommend to Her Majesty," she adds. |
| Mr Johnson has called for a "fairly lengthy consolidation period" before appointing a successor to Sir Ian Blair. | Mr Johnson has called for a "fairly lengthy consolidation period" before appointing a successor to Sir Ian Blair. |
| He resigned last week after the new mayor told him he wanted new leadership at the top of the force, which has sparked a political row. | He resigned last week after the new mayor told him he wanted new leadership at the top of the force, which has sparked a political row. |
| 'Media threat' | 'Media threat' |
| Meanwhile, Home Office minister Lord West of Spithead said Mr Johnson had threatened to tell the media he had no confidence in Sir Ian unless he resigned. | |
| He told peers at question time: "As I understand it, the mayor said to the commissioner: 'If you don't go I will find someone to ask me a question, with the media there, as to whether I have confidence in you and if they do I will say I I haven't'." | He told peers at question time: "As I understand it, the mayor said to the commissioner: 'If you don't go I will find someone to ask me a question, with the media there, as to whether I have confidence in you and if they do I will say I I haven't'." |
| Lord West also claimed he had seen a letter from Mr Johnson which contradicted the mayor's claim on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he did not want a long gap before a replacement was appointed. | Lord West also claimed he had seen a letter from Mr Johnson which contradicted the mayor's claim on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he did not want a long gap before a replacement was appointed. |
| He said: "I have seen a letter from him, which I won't quote, in which he does say that he wants to extend that time. | He said: "I have seen a letter from him, which I won't quote, in which he does say that he wants to extend that time. |
| The minister also described Mr Johnson's decision to ask Sir Ian to resign as "a very quick knee-jerk reaction. It was not sensible and should not have been done." | The minister also described Mr Johnson's decision to ask Sir Ian to resign as "a very quick knee-jerk reaction. It was not sensible and should not have been done." |