Blair’s Law
So, he’s already mayor? Lord how fun it would be if we worked that way. You get five days to clear out your office, or your whole house if your gig happens to get a residence to come with it. Anyhoo…
Boris has stated that first on his agenda is tackling crime in London. Hopefully this means he’ll be inviting Rudy’s people back again and, this time, not expecting them to say something different than what they always say. I had a hilarious article on that but I can’t find it right now, darnit. So…
Skilful delegation to deputy mayors with clearly defined responsibilities should allow Mr Johnson to act as chairman rather than chief executive. This will be vital if he is to chair the Metropolitan Police Authority, as he wishes, without spreading himself too thin. But no amount of delegation will absolve him of decision-making on weightier issues than he is used to.
On crime, he has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with Sir Ian Blair as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and has indicated at the weekend that he will push for Sir Ian to go if his performance does not improve. He must urgently clarify how he intends to measure that performance, and forge a sensible working relationship with the Met in the meantime.
Sigh
Why, why can’t he get rid of Blair?
May 6th, 2008 at 2:29 am
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner is appointed by the Home Secretary ie the Westminster government, and neither the London Assembly nor the Mayor has the power to get rid of him. Pesronally, I’d make it elected, along with all the other chief constables. Might make them think about their priorities.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:50 am
The day after the polls heralding Maggie Thatcher’s first election win an American commentator was boasting to his British colleague in the press about how quick the computerized vote counting system in US was - the result was known by the close of polls (or even before). None of this all night stuff to find out the result the next day.
The TV coverage was showing Mrs Thatcher arriving at 10 Downing Street the day after the election and the American commentator asked if she was there to take a sneak peak at the office - sort of a preview. “No” said the British journalist, “She’s moving in”.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:01 am
There’s nothing that dramatises it quite so well as the sight of a furniture removal van outside Number 10.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
god that sounds nice…
May 6th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I guess it’s bad form to have the van arrive too early?
May 6th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hehehehe that would be a hilarious prank, order a delivery van to show up at No 10 (or regional equivalent) and arrange for the press to be there as some angry hefty guy argues with the poor girl who finally comes to the door that he doesn’t care who’s mistake it is he’s there to do a job, inn’t he.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Hehe! One used to be able to walk up Downing st, but I think they block it off these days?
May 8th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Yes, they were put up gates in the days when terrorism was an Irish activity.
The best removal was Ted Heath’s, the guys struggled to get his grand piano out, but at least everyone knew he had gone. You’d not shift a grand piano just as a joke.