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Met chief resists calls to resign Assembly call to sack Met chief
(29 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. Members of the London Assembly have passed a vote of no confidence in Sir Ian Blair, the Met Police Commissioner.
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. Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on the assembly united to ensure the motion was passed by 15 votes to eight.
Sir Ian was before the London Assembly, where he faces a confidence vote. Addressing members before the vote, Sir Ian Blair repeated his apology for the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes but insisted he will not resign.
He said his force would not appeal a jury's ruling that the Met breached health and safety laws over the death.
In 2005, Mr de Menezes was shot dead by firearms officers on the London Underground after he was mistaken for a suicide bomber.
The motion, which called on the Metropolitan Police Authority to sack Sir Ian, was passed after the commissioner was questioned for two hours.
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'
Sir Ian told the assembly that he would have resigned if he had been guilty of "a series of failings" .Sir Ian told the assembly that he would have resigned if he had been guilty of "a series of failings" .
However, he said it would be wrong for him to stand down on the basis of one operation going wrong when the Met had successfully countered a string of terrorist threats.However, he said it would be wrong for him to stand down on the basis of one operation going wrong when the Met had successfully countered a string of terrorist threats.
He added: "There are three options here. There is resign now and walk away. There is cling on, and be pushed out.He added: "There are three options here. There is resign now and walk away. There is cling on, and be pushed out.
"Or there is the one that I am going to do, which is survive."Or there is the one that I am going to do, which is survive.
"Every time I have spoken about this I have apologised for that death."Every time I have spoken about this I have apologised for that 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."
He acknowledged that he had made "widely-publicised" mistakes, but said that Londoners would judge him on falling crime figures and safer streets.He acknowledged that he had made "widely-publicised" mistakes, but said that Londoners would judge him on falling crime figures and safer streets.
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, GLAWe 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
London mayor Ken Livingstone, who has given Sir Ian his backing, said that that a "cynical campaign" was being waged against the commissioner.
He said: "Today's vote by the London Assembly on the Met Commissioner shows why the government was right to give the London Assembly no powers whatever in policing."
"Al-Qaeda must be laughing at us while we busy ourselves pillorying the police who keep us safe."
But 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 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.
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, David Davis, criticising his call for Sir Ian's resignation.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has written to her Tory shadow, David Davis, criticising his call for Sir Ian's resignation.
Ms Smith told reporters that politicians like herself and Mr Davis should rally round the police.Ms Smith told reporters that politicians like herself and Mr Davis should rally round the police.
Jacqui Smith has come out in defence of Sir Ian BlairJacqui Smith has come out in defence of Sir Ian Blair
"We'll never be faced with having to make split-second decisions in life-and-death policing operations, but we should think seriously and soberly about the impact that our comments and actions have on those who do have to do that," she said."We'll never be faced with having to make split-second decisions in life-and-death policing operations, but we should think seriously and soberly about the impact that our comments and actions have on those who do have to do that," she said.
"I think as responsible politicians we should be getting behind those who are at the forefront of our fight against terrorism.""I think as responsible politicians we should be getting behind those who are at the forefront of our fight against terrorism."
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.