Yesterday, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Len Duvall, issued a statement warning Labour politicians not to try to influence the Cash for Honours Inquiry. I posted it HERE. This afternoon he has sought to, er, clarify his remarks...
'In the Sunday Times article today on the cash for honours inquiry some of my comments could be misconstrued as referring to the strength or nature of the evidence. This is not so. 'My comments were primarily focused around my concerns for the way in which some people appeared to be questioning the behaviour, conduct and motives of police officers involved in this inquiry. What I did say was that it is wrong for anyone, no matter who they are, to attempt to interfere with or try and influence the way in which police carry out their investigations. Those people who made what I consider to be inadvisable remarks around recent events connected with this inquiry should reflect on the appropriateness of what they have said.
They know the police are fully accountable for their actions and are involved in a complex and difficult investigation, and everyone should cooperate fully. I would also like to add that on further reflection, and having had the opportunity to re-examine what Tessa Jowell said, I am now quite clear she was not commenting on the way in which police are conducting the inquiry. Also, I was not implying she or her husband were involved in any wrongdoing nor that I had evidence suggesting that was so.'
Now call me an old cynic if you like, but you don't reckon he's been 'got at' do you? Nah, thought not. After all, the Labour Party doesn't do bullying, does it? They're not like Jade, are they? I'll just get my coat.
UPDATE: Dizzy thinks the same HERE.
22 comments:
Nah. Never happen. Far too principled......
"It suits today the weak and base,
Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place"
It does depress me, becuase there was no need to 'clarify' anything. He hadn't even savaged Mrs Mortgage in particular, so I don't know why he is retracting.
The interesting thing, anon 5:21, is that for Tessa Jowell to request that particular clarification (and why single her out by name if there was no such request) suggests she thought he was referring to some wrongdoing on her part. Perhaps she heard a small, long-silent, voice within her and confused it with Mr Duvall's?
Looks like he's had a "can we discuss your future prospects" call!
This situation is developing into a stand-off between the government and the police, just as at the time of the Hutton Inquiry there was a stand-off between the government and the BBC. The government won against the BBC. The consequences of the government winning a stand-off against the police are unthinkable.
On a different, but related, topic.
I'm not sure that Blunkett is giving the benefit of his wisdom and skill in advising on the suitability of the split in the Home Office.
Sounds for like that Mctiernan / ternan chappie in No. 10 saying 'John, You say one thing, Blunkie you say another the day after, and that will fill the BBC news for at least 48 hrs until the heat is off'
The consequences of the government winning a stand-off against the police are unthinkable.
Yes, the police must win this one. full stop.
Excellent article by Henry Porter today, although I am not sure that his view that GB can fix the problem is the right one.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1995388,00.html
Why do people say, "I'll just get my coat"? Is it a catch phrase from some TV programme I haven't seen? People do it on the BBC website too, after inflicting some particularly weak joke on the comment pages.
Herbert G. (Leeds)
"The consequences of the government winning a stand-off against the police are unthinkable."
I would hope some more weighty figures step in to reinforce the police before NL break that like every thing else they have touched.
Ultimately, and this is an assumption so correct me if I'm wrong, but if this scandal goes all the way to the top, and involves a few ministers, then HM surely can step in and dissolve parliament.
I am sure that the Police and services who swear allegiance to her could put up with that.
Will anyone be asking Ms Jowell, Mr Blunkett or Lord Putnam, to clarify any of the unhelpful comments they made against the Police involved in the ONGOING enquiry into cash for peerages.
This mess is looking more and more serious, and who is running the country while the rats leaving the ship try to throw each other a lifeline.
Len's been got at. They're pulling all the stops out because they're shitting themselves.
Don't you dare call me a bully! I'm far worse than that.
"They're pulling all the stops out because they're shitting themselves."
You're right, anonymous. I believe this resembles a ghoulish game of musical chairs. Who is going to be left out in the cold, spinning in the wind, facing m'learned friends, alone, in the dock? They're all frantically burrowing for safety, and isn't it a tonic for the soul to see them doing it.
He appears to have been got at. However, as yet more evidence of Liabour bullying enters the public domain, the ship sinks a few more inches...
If Yates of the Yard is nobbled, you can bet whatever you like that the evidence will be made public or leaked. Bliar doesn't have the political capital to survive another scandal of Hutton proportions, and Broon will be in No 10 before you can say "neoclassical endogenous growth theory".
To say that Tessa Jowell "was not commenting on the way in which police are conducting the inquiry" when we all heard her doing exactly that in some detail on both Radio 4 Today and later the same day on Radio 4 Any Questions is beyond belief. I can only conclude he is deaf and nobody has read the comments to him. We need to post transcripts, can someone who has recorded those programmes or is willing to listen to them on the BBC website please note exactly what she said and forward it to Iain so that he can publish it?
The truth is that she, David Puttnam and David Blunkett have all been quite publicly and brazenly attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The three of them should be arrested and charged with conspiracy.
At the risk of repeating what I said on an earlier posting, this government is really bad at spinning the news. They just don't know when to shut up.
Oh, and why hasn't Sir Ian Blair come out loud and clear in support of his officers, warning the politicians to get their tanks off his lawn?
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she was "slightly bewildered" as to why the arrest had happened early in the morning, with four policemen knocking on the door of Ms Turner - who was then released without charge.
"She has fully co-operated and she is a person of utter decency and conscientiousness and I am surprised," Ms Jowell said
I've just been watching "The Trial of Tony Blair" Its supposed to be fiction! NOT!Should be required watching for all Tories. See what youll get if you dont stay united.
scots wha hae - good point. I think the current period will become known as "The Silence of the Blairs".
If anyone goes to court in the honours probe, the defence barrister will be able to claim the defendants had already been found guilty by the Chair of the MET, therefore making a successful prosecution impossible.
Len Duvall is a member of which party ?
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