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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Blair survives no-confidence vote | Blair survives no-confidence vote |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has won a vote of confidence by members of the Metropolitan Police Authority. | Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has won a vote of confidence by members of the Metropolitan Police Authority. |
| The UK's most senior officer was facing censure after his force was found guilty of health and safety failures following the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes. | |
| Fifteen members of the MPA supported Sir Ian, seven voted against him and there was one abstention. | Fifteen members of the MPA supported Sir Ian, seven voted against him and there was one abstention. |
| After the vote Sir Ian said: "I'm going to go back and get on with my job." | After the vote Sir Ian said: "I'm going to go back and get on with my job." |
| Pleased | Pleased |
| He added: "I'm pleased to have the backing of the majority of the police authority. I don't in any way minimise the tragedy that is the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. " | He added: "I'm pleased to have the backing of the majority of the police authority. I don't in any way minimise the tragedy that is the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. " |
| MPA chairman Len Duvall said Sir Ian had the "overwhelming support" of the Police Authority. | MPA chairman Len Duvall said Sir Ian had the "overwhelming support" of the Police Authority. |
| I think it was absolutely unbelievable that nobody seemed willing to pay the price for the shooting of an innocent man in Stockwell Tube station Boris Johnson, Conservative London mayor candidate | I think it was absolutely unbelievable that nobody seemed willing to pay the price for the shooting of an innocent man in Stockwell Tube station Boris Johnson, Conservative London mayor candidate |
| He said: "I think it is appropriate he is allowed to get on with his job, which is about learning the lessons of this and making sure it never happens again in London." | He said: "I think it is appropriate he is allowed to get on with his job, which is about learning the lessons of this and making sure it never happens again in London." |
| Mr Duvall said Sir Ian was not a "lame duck commissioner". | Mr Duvall said Sir Ian was not a "lame duck commissioner". |
| He added that he expected Sir Ian to continue working for the rest of his contract, which continues for another two and a half years. | He added that he expected Sir Ian to continue working for the rest of his contract, which continues for another two and a half years. |
| Despite the vote, the pressure remains on Sir Ian to resign. The Conservative candidate for London mayor, Boris Johnson, said he still thought the commissioner's position was "very difficult". | Despite the vote, the pressure remains on Sir Ian to resign. The Conservative candidate for London mayor, Boris Johnson, said he still thought the commissioner's position was "very difficult". |
| Speaking on the BBC's World at One he said: "I did say from the very beginning that I thought he should go. I think it was absolutely unbelievable that nobody seemed willing to pay the price for the shooting of an innocent man in Stockwell Tube station." | Speaking on the BBC's World at One he said: "I did say from the very beginning that I thought he should go. I think it was absolutely unbelievable that nobody seemed willing to pay the price for the shooting of an innocent man in Stockwell Tube station." |
| Mr de Menezes's cousin, Erionaldo da Silva, said: "We believe Ian Blair's position is untenable and we have no confidence in him. We do not believe that this vote resolves the main issues on this case." | Mr de Menezes's cousin, Erionaldo da Silva, said: "We believe Ian Blair's position is untenable and we have no confidence in him. We do not believe that this vote resolves the main issues on this case." |
| He called for an inquest into his cousin's death "as soon as possible". | He called for an inquest into his cousin's death "as soon as possible". |
| During the meeting, Sir Ian's supporters argued that the commissioner should be allowed to draw a line under the Stockwell shooting and concentrate on making London safer. | During the meeting, Sir Ian's supporters argued that the commissioner should be allowed to draw a line under the Stockwell shooting and concentrate on making London safer. |
| Silence | Silence |
| Sir Ian had sat in virtual silence during the four-hour meeting as members of the police authority argued whether he should keep his job. | Sir Ian had sat in virtual silence during the four-hour meeting as members of the police authority argued whether he should keep his job. |
| One critic said Sir Ian should follow the example of the chairman of HM Revenue and Customs and resign. | One critic said Sir Ian should follow the example of the chairman of HM Revenue and Customs and resign. |
| But Mr Duvall said the watchdog body risked bringing itself into disrepute by the public and vitriolic attacks on Sir Ian. | But Mr Duvall said the watchdog body risked bringing itself into disrepute by the public and vitriolic attacks on Sir Ian. |
| He said they were entering "virtually unknown territory" as they met to make their most important decision since the authority was created seven years ago. | He said they were entering "virtually unknown territory" as they met to make their most important decision since the authority was created seven years ago. |
| If the authority had failed to back Sir Ian, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would have come under pressure to sack him. | If the authority had failed to back Sir Ian, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would have come under pressure to sack him. |