Less than two weeks ago I wrote about the failings of Sir Iain Blair; Ian Blair has led the Met to the brink of disaster. I highlighted political correctness, infighting within senior ranks and, of course, the Jean Charles de Menezes tragedy. I am relieved at today's news that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has finally done the decent thing and resigned.
The Home Secretary (who defended Sir Ian for far too long) must now work closely with Boris Johnson in appointing a successor who can deliver the kind of policing that Londoners deserve and that has been missing for too long. I'm sure most of London's police officers will be relieved too. They are in the frontline of many of our social problems and this saga cannot have been helpful to them.
Today's news is also a victory for Boris and for Kit Malthouse. They've made it clear that Sir Ian was not their first choice to oversee London's policing. There is now the opportunity of a fresh start.
