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Tories accused over Blair calls Met chief resists calls to resign
(about 9 hours later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has written to her Tory counterpart to criticise his calls for the resignation of Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. 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.
She accused David Davis of placing "opportunistic party politics" above national security. 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.
He has urged Sir Ian to quit since the force's conviction in connection with the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes. Sir Ian was before the London Assembly, where he faces a confidence vote.
Tories on the London Assembly may use a vote later to express their lack of confidence in Sir Ian's leadership. Conservative group leader Richard Barnes said there were "very grave questions" over Sir Ian's leadership.
A jury at the Old Bailey decided last week that the Met had broken health and safety laws relating to public safety when officers shot Brazilian Mr de Menezes at a Tube station on 22 July 2005. 'Split second'
He was followed by police to Stockwell station after they mistook him for a would-be suicide bomber being hunted in connection with the previous day's failed bombings in London. 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.
'Reconsider position' 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.
"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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Jacqui Smith has come out in defence of Sir Ian Blair
On Wednesday, Conservatives on the London 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.
Tory group leader Richard Barnes said "very grave questions" had arisen over Sir Ian's leadership and judgement and they had no confidence in Sir Ian Blair's "stewardship" of the Met.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will publish its report into the Stockwell shooting on Thursday.
Sir Ian has already been accused of trying to block IPCC investigators from accessing the scene of the shooting in the immediate aftermath.
And the commissioner may also learn shortly whether he is to face a vote of confidence at an emergency meeting of his force's police authority.