Two members of the London Assembly, who also sit on the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), have reacted angrily to reports that Sir Ian Blair will be paid for the remainder of his contract despite having resigned.
Sir Ian resigned as Met Commissioner last month after Mayor of London Boris Johnson told him he wanted to see a change of leadership. His contract was originally due to run until 2010.
According to reports, Sir Ian will receive the remaining value of his contract in a £295,000 lump sum, on top of a £168,000 annual pension.
Green Party AM Jenny Jones has accused Mayor Johnson of leaving Londoners ”paying for two police commissioners but only getting the services of one.”
Jones added: “If the Mayor had consulted other parts of London Government about both the original decision to dismiss Sir Ian and the subsequent decision to compensate him, we probably wouldn’t be in this situation.”
LibDem spokesperson Dee Doocey sad there was “no reason whatsoever to pay off somebody who has resigned.”
“If any other employee told their boss they were resigning, there would be absolutely no question of them being given a payoff, let alone a bonus. Why should there be one rule for the chief of police and another for every other worker?”
“In this economic climate it is frankly a disgrace that this is even being considered.”
