After David Cameron’s ugly right wing bar room rant, disguised as a Blairite speech to the Conservative conference, we get a reminder of what the party would be like in power. Boris Johnson came over all nice and cuddly during the Mayoral campaign. Now safely in power he carries out the fantasy of right wing authoritarians in sacking Sir Ian Blair.
What a contrast to the nervy insecurity of new Labour, which paid weak homage to many totemic figures of the Tory years when it got into power in 1997. That is not the way they do things in the Conservative party. When self-confident, born to rule Etonians get power they use it ruthlessly as a means to realise their own outdated prejudices. Johnson ignored the ill-defined ambiguity of his powers over the Metropolitan Police and withdrew his support without specifying publicly why he has done so, stretching his powers without feeling the need for any form of accountability. Sir Ian Blair was an innovative leader in the most challenging of times. He will be missed.
At a national level listen very carefully to what Cameron and his allies are saying. They have not got power yet. There is still time to scrutinise sceptically the unreconstructed right wing policies and instincts behind the carefully contrived compassionate language. As Johnson is demonstrating in a range of areas once they have got power they will use it brutally, a Sun editorial coming to life, and it will be too late to do anything about it.
Whoa, shock horror. The guy who wrote demented neo con editorials for several years before becoming mayor of London turned out to be a right wing fanatic. Well, I never. He had such a funny mop of hair, and he rode a bike. Surely it can't be the same Boris Johnson who described the American soldiers in Iraq as a superior race to the natives (cf. Have I Got Views for You).
Of course, Ken Livingstone was a disaster, but the Independent gave no support for Brian Paddick or Sian Berry.
Posted by: gregor | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 11:24 AM
Steve Richards is a sound political commentator (although he fell for the Brown oppositionist narrative too early and for too long) but this post is unintelligent. I thought Cameron's speech a little dull but hardly bar-room, and - if you want to see why Johnson was right to make clear his lack of confidence in Blair - read Andy Hayman in today's Times. Come on, don't make blogging an excuse for parking your critical faculties.
Posted by: Tommy Judd | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 01:50 PM
Steve Richards couldn't be more wrong.
Long serving Tory governments are practiced in the art of sleaze, usually sexual or marital peccadillos, a bit of perjury, some expense fiddling or dodgy business deals here and there.
This long serving Labour government has an entirely different pattern of corruption - systematic undermining of the institutions of state by rampant cronyism and idealogical infiltration.
Blair is Blair's cop - corrupt, compromised and part of the gang. It is comical that Smith (who probably also has a low opinion of Blair), has found herself in the position of trying to defend him.
It was Tony Blair who politicised the police, the BBC, the civil service and untold quangos.
If the Tories come to power there will be much blood on the floor, Richards is right about that, but the cause is transparent - the rotten New Labour project, corrupting the state and destroying the Labour party.
Posted by: Linda Stewart | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 02:07 PM
So, Steve - Ian Blair was worth keeping as Met Chief, was he??
ROFL!!!!!!!!!
Ken Livingstone not only endorsed this summary-justice neo-con thug whilst in office - but has leapt to the defence of New Labour's very own Goebbels from his retirement.
Truly puke-making.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 07:38 PM
Its a pity Mr Richards could not exercise more objectivity about this departure.
Sir Ian Blair was embattled, his leadership of the Met a source of increasing concern amongst the ranks and his lack of political neutrality made him a player in the game.
Instead of hurling infantile abuse at Boris (shades of a misspent youth in the Trots or some anti-Thatcher rant club?) perhaps Mr Richards should offer some suggestions about the state of law and order in London?
Posted by: Old Hack | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 07:44 PM
>> perhaps Mr Richards should offer some suggestions about the state of law and order in London? <<
Do you think they actually care about the ISSUES?
No, they're only interested in saving the abysmal dreck that is the New Labour Party - no matter that that means endorsing a neo-nazi nutter who makes Mrs Thatcher's beloved Sir James Anderton look a pinko wuss by comparison.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 08:09 PM
"ugly right wing bar room rant"
I think it is this blog which is an ugly, left wing, bar room rant. Cameron spoke about responsibility and regeneration, about giving our children a good education, stopping our hospitals killing people and setting people free to build up their own business. If you think those things are ugly, then I think you need to examine your own views very, very carefully.
Ian Blair was a disgrace - sacking him was good for everyone, except people who think the content of Mr Cameron's speech ugly. But then they are just Orcs - people who were once human but are no longer.
Posted by: Miranda | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 08:26 PM
If Steve really thinks that Cameron's speech was a "right wing" rant then it tells us more about him than Cameron. Steve is so blind with prejudice that he really cannot be regarded any more as a serious commentator.
He really really hates Tories - whatever their policies. It is them personally he hates. The bile is very strong. His attitude is pretty shocking.
He is no longer qualified any more to act as host for any TV politics show that claims to be impartial.
Posted by: Martin | Friday, 03 October 2008 at 09:47 PM
"Right wing bar room rants" don't NEED to be disguised to sound like a Blairite speech
Posted by: Daphne Millar | Saturday, 04 October 2008 at 06:32 AM
Steve needs to remember that Boris was directly elected by the people of London which cannot be said for the Home Secretary (elected by the good citizens of Redditch only). He did not sack the Commissioner but simply withdrew support. Anyone could have done the same, but being elected Mayor gave Boris's non-support rather more significance.
Posted by: Martin S | Saturday, 04 October 2008 at 06:47 AM
"By statute, only the Home Secretary can appoint and dismiss a Met Police Commissioner. "There's a process in place that the Mayor chose not to respect," -Jaqui Smith.
What utter garbage, Boris ignored no process, he articulated the majority view that Ian Bliar has been a disaster for the Metropolitan Police, and policing in the UK as a whole. Boris did exactly what he was elected to do, give voice to the people that elected him.
Jaqui Smith and her NuLabour chums have some nerve accusing Boris of politicising the Police; Ian Bliar was a political appointment made by her government, he was given the job because of his politically correct credentials, which have precipitated the Met's descent into chaos and public ridicule. Bliar was a major proponent of the Black Police Association, an organisation whose admissions policy would be a criminal offence, if practiced by white police officers.
Nulabour have spent the last eleven years systematically politicising the Police and in the process have alienated them from the public and demoralised the force's rank and file officers. It was NuLabour ministers that ordered a number of chief constables to actively campaign for ID cards and increased detention without charge, that was unashamedly political.
However, Bliar is not the only one, there is a whole cadre of PC NuLabour apparatchiks in the command ranks of all of the UK's police forces; they all need to be expunged if we are to see an end to pandering to, and pussy-footing around, minority interest groups and the implementation of real crime fighting measures, in place of trendy initiatives and meaningless soundbites.
Posted by: Keith Lonsdale | Saturday, 04 October 2008 at 01:37 PM
Sir Ian "will be missed"; unlike Jean Charles de Menezes?
Posted by: Rob dePlume | Saturday, 04 October 2008 at 02:57 PM
Steve Richards reckons: "Sir Ian Blair was an innovative leader in the most challenging of times. He will be missed."
*splutter* Does the writer of this article live in some parallel universe, where up is down, and left is right?
Blair should have been dismissed years ago. Heck, he should never have been appointed in the first place. Even Captain Mannering would have run a better show than this media loving, politically correct, fool.
Apart from all his other blundering, he should have had the good grace to stand down after the cops devilish killing of the Brazilian lad. The lies put out (vaulting ticket barriers, running down escalator) in the aftermath of that man's death were an utter disgrace.
Good riddance Blair.
Posted by: Robbie | Saturday, 04 October 2008 at 08:10 PM
What tosh.
Sir Ian Blair was the subjec of a vote of no confidence by the GLA about a year ago, before Boris was elected (democratically elected, Mr Richards) mayor. His time as commissioner has been a total disaster.
The truth is that Boris has not been even a marginal disaster yet, contrary to the predictions of Mr Richards and others (still waiting for Arabella Weir to throw herself under a horse!).
Sir Ian had to go and the sooner the better.
As for Mr Cameron's excellent speech, the sad truth is that those for whom Mr Richards claims to care, and even Mr Richards himself, will benefit from a Cameron government. I am a rabid Tory, but I don't think that the left mean ill. I just disagree with their analysis. It is a great shame that Mr Richards cannot credit Mr Cameron and others with an iota of goodwill or sense.
Posted by: Mark | Saturday, 04 October 2008 at 10:37 PM
Mr. Richards. I despair at your thought processes. How a man who has upset almost everyone under his command can be allowed to 'carry on regardless' is a nonsence. The Black Police Association, The Metropolitan Police Federation the Assistant Commissioner and so many more have all shown that Blair was not fit for the job.
As for your support. It fits that a labour supporting journalist, who always looks at the failings of labour through rose tinted spectacles, should offer support to Blair, who was, when all is said and done, a political appointment.
I believe is going was a political move that went wrong. He obviously thought that the Home Secretary would refuse to accept his resignation. Thus causing a major political row between the elected Mayor of London and the Home Secretary. His plan failed because the Home Secretary obviously grabbed the resignation with both hands, and then with crocodile tears went on the air ways saying what a good man he was etc. SHE, Mr Richards, could have saved the man.......but you conveniently let the truth be overlooked so to attempt a rather juvenile attack on Boris and David Cameron.
Mr Richards. No doubt, when you attend another of the Labour love in's at Chequers, you will have your back slapped etc. BUT after the next general election, which self respecting newspaper would want to publish the views of a man so out of touch with the people?
Posted by: alan | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 07:20 AM
I agree with most of the anti-Blairites above. This Metropolitan Police head should have rolled earlier, if there was a half-decent Judicial system to investigate the Jean Charles de Menezes at an appropriate/immediate time. The system strives beyond reason, to protect the likes of Blair in the elite Estate of the UK. In my book Boris Johnson is a flippant clown, but this a very large plus and shows he is capable of serious thought--10/10.
Posted by: Diogenes | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 01:07 PM
At the inquest in to the death of Jean Charles de Menzes or INSTITUTIONAL MURDER the head of the operation Cressida Dick who was under the command of IAN BLAIR the audacity to add insult to the injury and grief of the De Menzes Family(who,s mother is attending the inquest) by declaring that 1: everybody in the operation did things right 2:That what happened to Jean Charles de Menzes was a TRAGEDY(a fatal death by accident is a TRAGEDY.A fatal death in BOTCHED police operation that is INCOMPETENCE as part of the planning is CORRECTLEY IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS/ PERPATRATORS 3:(Wait for it) Cressida Dick,s CONCLUSION is That NO ONE is to BLAME.
The final piece of organised maddness(NO COMMON-SENSE at all being applied by those we trust to make the LAW,S or Enforce the LAWS) in this whole sorry
Keystone Cops political Caper is that Ian Blair resign,s and walk,s away with the over Half-a-million pounds of the Taxpayer,s money as a thank you and the man who was instrumental in his appointment Tony Blair get,s life time employment/backing
from the Banks J.P Morgan/Morgan Stanley/Faith Foundation,s for LIFE. All very true and very,very Interesting so wake up please people.(Smile) R.I.P JEAN CHARLES Give Care and Take Care Peace
Posted by: ANKH | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 02:45 PM
The Menezes case went further into regrettable territory than the loss of innocent life. My reaction to early reports of an anonymous “terrorist” being fragged on the tube was a perhaps unworthy but understandable “good riddance”! Once the fatal cock-up transpired, though, this morphed into: “Oh no, the berks have handed the usual suspects another free pass to Outrageville.” Quite apart from a needless death, this botched job actually compromised everyone’s security by strewing even more eggshells in our path. Very nice of Sir Inane Blur to get all community-huggy, but giving terrorists, sympathisers and apologists an extra mile of sleeve to laugh up was a favour too far.
Posted by: Rob dePlume | Monday, 06 October 2008 at 10:44 PM
The utilising of COMMON-SENSE (which should Infact really be called RARE-Sense) can help CONFUSED DULLARDS who try to give PHILIPPIC comments stop deRotten Apples deRotten Bananas and dePlums having regrets or a regrettable nature like Sir Ian Blair (SIR Inane BLUR )
and his STILL INSTITUTIONALLY RACIST Police Force.(What ever Happened to Equality Diversity or Community Relations Mmmmm True,Factual,and still Laughing)
Wake up please people Give Care and Take Care
PEACE
Free Noble Rev Dr Malachi Z.York-EL.www.heisinnocent.com
Posted by: ANKH | Tuesday, 07 October 2008 at 09:54 PM