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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Met chief resists calls to resign | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Met police commissioner Sir Ian Blair has repeated his apology for the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes but insisted he will not resign. | Met police commissioner Sir Ian Blair has repeated his apology for the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes but insisted he will not resign. |
| But he said his force would not appeal against a jury's ruling that the force breached health and safety laws over the innocent Brazilian's death. | |
| Sir Ian was before the London Assembly, where he faces a confidence vote. | |
| Conservative group leader Richard Barnes said there were "very grave questions" over Sir Ian's leadership. | Conservative group leader Richard Barnes said there were "very grave questions" over Sir Ian's leadership. |
| 'Split second' | 'Split second' |
| But Sir Ian told the assembly that it would be wrong for him to stand down on the basis of one operation going wrong when the Met had countered a string of terrorist threats. | But Sir Ian told the assembly that it would be wrong for him to stand down on the basis of one operation going wrong when the Met had countered a string of terrorist threats. |
| He added: "Every time I have spoken about this I have apologised for that death. | He added: "Every time I have spoken about this I have apologised for that death. |
| "Our decision to contest that trial should not be seen as any rejection of accountability for the death. | "Our decision to contest that trial should not be seen as any rejection of accountability for the death. |
| "We've now had enough time to consider clearly what we should do about the verdict and we will not be appealing it." | "We've now had enough time to consider clearly what we should do about the verdict and we will not be appealing it." |
| In 2005, Mr de Menezes was shot dead by firearms officers on the London Underground after he was mistaken for a suicide bomber. | In 2005, Mr de Menezes was shot dead by firearms officers on the London Underground after he was mistaken for a suicide bomber. |
| We have come to the conclusion that we have no confidence in Sir Ian Blair's stewardship of the Metropolitan Police Service Richard BarnesConservative group leader, GLA | We have come to the conclusion that we have no confidence in Sir Ian Blair's stewardship of the Metropolitan Police Service Richard BarnesConservative group leader, GLA |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is due to publish its report into the incident on Thursday. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is due to publish its report into the incident on Thursday. |
| Conservatives on the assembly want to use a meeting to stage a vote forcing its chairwoman to write to Ms Smith expressing a lack of confidence in Sir Ian. | Conservatives on the assembly want to use a meeting to stage a vote forcing its chairwoman to write to Ms Smith expressing a lack of confidence in Sir Ian. |
| Mr Barnes said: "We have come to the conclusion that we have no confidence in Sir Ian Blair's stewardship of the Metropolitan Police service." | Mr Barnes said: "We have come to the conclusion that we have no confidence in Sir Ian Blair's stewardship of the Metropolitan Police service." |
| The commissioner may also learn shortly whether he is to face another vote of confidence at an emergency meeting of his force's police authority. | The commissioner may also learn shortly whether he is to face another vote of confidence at an emergency meeting of his force's police authority. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has written to her Tory shadow, criticising his call for Sir Ian's resignation. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has written to her Tory shadow, criticising his call for Sir Ian's resignation. |
| Ms Smith accused her opposition counterpart David Davis of placing "opportunistic party politics" above national security. | Ms Smith accused her opposition counterpart David Davis of placing "opportunistic party politics" above national security. |
| The shadow home secretary has urged Sir Ian to resign after the force's conviction in connection with the killing of Mr de Menezes. | The shadow home secretary has urged Sir Ian to resign after the force's conviction in connection with the killing of Mr de Menezes. |
| Jacqui Smith has come out in defence of Sir Ian Blair | Jacqui Smith has come out in defence of Sir Ian Blair |
| "You and I will never face the challenge of making split second decisions in life and death policing operations," Ms Smith wrote in a letter to Mr Davis. | "You and I will never face the challenge of making split second decisions in life and death policing operations," Ms Smith wrote in a letter to Mr Davis. |
| "We do, however, need to consider soberly and seriously the impact that our words and the strength of our support has on those who do. | "We do, however, need to consider soberly and seriously the impact that our words and the strength of our support has on those who do. |
| "I think that my job, and that of other responsible politicians, is to back those who risk their lives to protect the British people from that terrorist threat." | "I think that my job, and that of other responsible politicians, is to back those who risk their lives to protect the British people from that terrorist threat." |
| She said it was wrong to politicise the future of an independent police commissioner. | She said it was wrong to politicise the future of an independent police commissioner. |
| Ms Smith added: "So it is I who am asking you, in the strongest terms, to reconsider your position on this matter and place the nation's security above opportunistic party politics." | Ms Smith added: "So it is I who am asking you, in the strongest terms, to reconsider your position on this matter and place the nation's security above opportunistic party politics." |
| She said she retained "full confidence" in Sir Ian and the Met. | She said she retained "full confidence" in Sir Ian and the Met. |