Boris Watch

Someone’s been leaking stuff to the Standard about the Met Police Commissioner job.  Apparently Malthouse (the only side mentioned by name) is at odds with two unnamed City Hall officials about whether to promote the late Sir Ian Blair’s deputy Paul Stephenson (the safe option) or bring in someone from outside, such as Hugh Orde.  Naturally this appears to map along the faultline between the borough boys and the Policy Exchange ultras, the former preferring evolutionary change, the latter revolutionary.  Orde has the required ‘tough’ reputation and is beloved amongst the PXers, presumably because he’ll implement some of their violent reactionary social policies and because they have a big hard-on for Loyalism (seriously – it’s almost a membership requirement).  Stephenson would continue things much as they are, without being seen as a hangover from the previous regime.  His view of the recent spate of youth knife crime is that it’s worrying and abnormal because it contradicts the otherwise falling murder rate, which I reckon is a sound analysis.

Since Boris actually gets a vote on this, it’s hard not to see it as another play out of the struggle for his soul.  However, it’s hard to see who actually benefits here – because Malthouse is the only named individual it suggests that off the record briefings by the ultras were behind it, trying to smear Stephenson before he can get rubber stamped by the MPA.  On the other hand, Malthouse might be behind it, seeking to portray the ultras as working behind closed doors, delaying the necessary appointment of a new Commissioner for ideological reasons.  Interesting piece, mainly because it’s hard to read the bias.  Not normally a problem with Standard articles, that.

Tags: No Comments