Boris Watch

An attempt to enhance the accountability of the new London mayoralty

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Boris Launches An Inquiry Into Alleged MPA Racism

October 6th, 2008 No Comments

Boris has launched an inquiry into allegations of racial discrimination at the MPA.
The announcement comes after the Metropolitan Black Police Association warned that they would be discouraging potential applicants from joining the force. In a statement, a spokesman said that:
“We would be failing our duty as an association if we did not [...]

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Breakin’ Noos: Ian Blair To Resign (Updated: He’s Resigned)

October 2nd, 2008 8 Comments

From The Times
“Sir Ian Blair is expected to announce his resignation as Metropolitan Police Commissioner this afternoon.
Sources told The Times that the pressures of recent months had forced Sir Ian, who became commissioner in February 2005, to consider his position.
He is understood to be standing down before Boris Johnson, the new Tory Mayor of London, [...]

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The MPA And More Mixed Messages On Policing

August 12th, 2008 No Comments

The Tory Troll, fresh from his summer travels, quotes a source as saying that:
“The rumour that the MPA is to be relocated is still circulating. Although how they intend to find desk space for another 100 people in City Hall is beyond me - unless this means 100 redundancies of City hall based staff.”
This rumour [...]

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Here Comes The Sheriff

July 31st, 2008 4 Comments

The Evening Standard is tentatively reporting on Boris’s plans for curbing adolescent crime. If it’s correct, then it indicates that the Mayor is attempting to satisfy both the hard and the progressive factions.
Boris will apparently spend £100 million on a variety of education initiatives. These range from school programmes, which we detailed previously, to ‘about [...]

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Slap Round The Face Or Stab In The Back?

July 31st, 2008 1 Comment

If it isn’t quite the Sword of Damocles suspended over Ian Blair’s head, it’s certainly the kitchen knife of someone very close to him.
In an leaked email, Kit Malthouse, who, in January, authored a critical Times article headlined ‘Sorry, Noone Voted For You‘, wrote that ‘essentially it’s the mayor’s decision to suspend or not‘, while [...]

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Mixed Messages As Boris Strives For Simplicity

July 23rd, 2008 3 Comments

Announcing the impending arrival of his budget, Boris stressed the importance of anti-crime measures:
“Crime is the number one issue for Londoners. I will build on the
early measures I have introduced such as the alcohol ban on the tube
and extra 440 safer transport police officers. Tackling the long-term
root causes of crime and violence and ensuring a [...]

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