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Brown could offer peerage and public post to Sir Ian
Sir Ian Blair is poised for a speedy return to public life with a peerage and possibly a government post, the Standard said on Saturday.
- By Joe Murphy, Evening Standard
- Published: 00:02 October 5, 2008
London: Sir Ian Blair is poised for a speedy return to public life with a peerage and possibly a government post, the Standard said on Saturday.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who spoke to Sir Ian before he resigned on Thursday, is considering giving him a peerage in the new year.
According to allies, Brown is tempted to appoint Sir Ian to a ministerial position relating to security - similar to junior Home Office Minister Lord West. Such an appointment could mean Boris Johnson having to work closely with the former Met chief in future.
A source close to No 10 said: "The prime minister admires Sir Ian Blair and thinks he has a great deal to offer in public life in the future. Nothing will happen before the new year but a peerage and a role in the government are both possibilities."
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that Brown spoke to Sir Ian before he left but would not be drawn on future appointments. "Nothing is imminent," he said.
Brown was rumoured to have tried to persuade Sir Ian to defy the mayor and stay on as London's police chief. However, sources said that by the time they spoke it was already clear that Sir Ian had made up his mind to go.
Appointment
New Met chief soon
The way was open on Friday for a foreign police officer to become the next Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Officials were drawing up the criteria for the selection of a new Scotland Yard chief and were expected to include a clause which allows foreign police chiefs - and even civilians - to be appointed.
It has emerged that Mayor Boris Johnson met Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton at City Hall last Friday.
The mayor forced out Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair on Thursday, insisting that it was time for a new figure to lead the fight against crime. The mayor's deputy, Kit Malthouse, said the decision was not about politics but "effective policing".
- Evening Standard
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