The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Met chief Sir Paul Stephenson quits

After a turbulent day on which Rebekah Brooks was arrested, the head of Scotland Yard resigns - with a jab at David Cameron.

By Helen Lewis Published 17 July 2011 20:42

Sir Paul Stephenson, the head of the Metropolitan police -- and Britain's most senior police officer -- has resigned. He said that he had "taken this decision as a consequence of ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met's links with News International".

Earlier in the day, former NI chief executive Rebekah Brooks was arrested by officers of Operation Weeting - the hacking enquiry - and Operation Elveden, which is investigating allegations of improper payments to police.

In the Sunday newspapers, Sir Paul had come under fire over the employment of former News of the World executive Neil Wallis in 2009 as a PR adviser to the Met. Wallis was arrested by Operation Weeting last week.

Stephenson said that he had not revealed his links to Wallis because he did not want to "compromise" David Cameron, who had employed Wallis's boss at the News of the World, Andy Coulson:

Once Mr Wallis's name did become associated with Operation Weeting, I did not want to compromise the Prime Minister in any way by revealing or discussing a potential suspect who clearly had a close relationship with Mr Coulson. I am aware of the many political exchanges in relation to Mr Coulson's previous employment - I believe it would have been extraordinarily clumsy of me to have exposed the Prime Minister, or by association the Home Secretary, to any accusation, however unfair, as a consequence of them being in possession of operational information in this regard. Similarly, the Mayor. Because of the individuals involved, their positions and relationships, these were I believe unique circumstances.

The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, said one colleague had described this paragraph as "a hand grenade lobbed at Downing Street", although there could also be an innocent explanation.

Keith Vaz MP told the BBC News Channel he was "genuinely shocked" by the resignation, particularly since Stephenson is due to give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on Tuesday.

Rebekah Brooks is also due to give evidence at the committee, although it is unclear whether she will now appear.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said he was "very reluctant" to accept the resignation, as Stephenson was "widely admired". "The so-called nexus between the News of the World and the Met was going to make life difficult . . . he didn't want to have that kind of distraction," said Johnson.

Here is the text of Stephenson's resignation statement:

I have taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met's links with News International at a senior level and in particular in relation to Mr Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested in connection with Operation Weeting last week.
...

Let me turn to phone hacking and my relationship with Neil Wallis. I want to put the record straight.
I met Mr Wallis in 2006. The purpose of that meeting was, as with other journalists, to represent the context of policing and to better inform the public debate carried out through the media on policing issues.
I had no knowledge of, or involvement in, the original investigation into phone hacking in 2006 that successfully led to the conviction and imprisonment of two men. I had no reason to believe this was anything other than a successful investigation. I was unaware that there were any other documents in our possession of the nature that have now emerged.
I have acknowledged the statement by John Yates that if he had known then what he knows now he would have made different decisions.
My relationship with Mr Wallis continued over the following years and the frequency of our meetings is a matter of public record. The record clearly accords with my description of the relationship as one maintained for professional purposes and an acquaintance.
In 2009 the Met entered into a contractual arrangement with Neil Wallis, terminating in 2010. I played no role in the letting or management of that contract.
I have heard suggestions that we must have suspected the alleged involvement of Mr Wallis in phone hacking. Let me say unequivocally that I did not and had no reason to have done so. I do not occupy a position in the world of journalism; I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging; nor of its apparent reach into senior levels.

The full statement can be found at Channel 4 News.

More from Helen Lewis

33 comments

Sun, 2011-07-17 22:05 — Lou (not verified)

You didn't annoy citizen, I thought you were trolling. Good luck with your endeavours.

I will re read your link but I disagree on your point about a Judge deeming what is in the public interest and what should be in the public domain, that would thwart freedom of the press for starters - and I believe in a free press- but we already know of extremely important information of great relevance to the public that has been granted injunction status by Judges who lean with the Govt or big business rather than on the side of public interest.

It's simply about morals and ethics. MPs should have had some and not fiddled, the police shouldn't have took cash payments, journalists, executives and whoever should not have hacked phones & emails of dead people, missing people, Govts should have remained impartial and upfront in all their interactions with the corporate media world.

The corporatisation of our society has led to concentrations of power that is completely devoid of any moral or ethical principles and that's what needs to change. Thirty years on, we find that the seeds of free markets and enterprise have blossomed into something rather quite ugly and until such time as morality, principles and ethics are seen to be more important than money and power, nothing much will change no matter how broad the clean sweep, how many inquiries or jailings.

Sun, 2011-07-17 22:28 — Indu Pendent (not verified)

This is all fantastic.

Anyone who is corrupted, Brown, Cameron, Balls, and a lot more need to be found out and punished.

I've campaign long that the UK political establishment suffers unnecisarily form corruption. We have a golden once in a life time chance to clean it up in the national interest.

The best is yet to come - the last government precided over some awful abuses of public trust which ordinary people have had to pay for:

- Before 2008, they borrowed and spent £350BN leaving a devastaing debt to repay. It was done to manage the UK political system and win power. The ties with the media were exploited for popular support and to hide the borrowing. The current corruption issues coming out are part of a much bigger picture.

Sun, 2011-07-17 22:48 — Neil (not verified)

The (at) Home Secretary has been invisible for months...why is she not commenting on the police corruption allegations?

Sun, 2011-07-17 22:50 — Lou (not verified)

@Neil

Before the resignation was announced, she had announced a statement in Parliament tomorrow and I believe has spoken to Sir Paul today. You're right though about her physical presence being absent, Yvette is leading the way there already.

Sun, 2011-07-17 22:55 — Lou (not verified)

Talk of the devil Neil, she's just released a prerecorded statement.

Sun, 2011-07-17 23:57 — digitaurus (not verified)

Looks like the hotel/spa story from News International was a shot across the bows to Stephenson to try to get him to bring Operation Weeting under some kind of 'control'. He decided he couldn't stop Weeting so fell on his sword before News International pressed the button.

His comment on Cameron was extraordinary, which implies he didn't trust Cameron to keep his mouth shut. Presumably this was a shot across Cameron's bows in turn ? That might explain the 'he was a wonderful coppa' guff coming from the government.

Mon, 2011-07-18 00:41 — Ivan White

"It is now time for David Cameron to also hand in his resignation."

Some of us have been arguing that point for quite a while now:-
http://cuttingedgeuk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=uk&action=display&thr...

Mon, 2011-07-18 00:42 — Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley (not verified)

I'm using this message box to raise a concern from my position as a member of the public currently using somebody else's computer.

I've noted from other relevant government web-sites that the Police do;

* act with honesty and integrity
* treat members of the public and their colleagues with respect
* not abuse the extraordinary powers and authority police officers are granted
* act in a manner that does not discredit or undermine public confidence in the police service

One wonders how these reasonable standards can be squared with the disgraceful behaviour of police commissioners who resign over spurious and surely nonsensical reasons - eg the local mayor has no faith in them ( See the resignation of commissioner Blair of the Met some years ago); and/or eg the local mayor does think they're doing ok but there's so much gossip & innuendo about - the kitchens too hot, so to speak.

Can we please reflect as to whether the public should afford to accept this resignation.

Mon, 2011-07-18 00:46 — trev1959ad

Isn't it about time for another re-launch of the 'Big Society',Dave?

Mon, 2011-07-18 01:12 — Ivan White

Dave will be praying for an announcement of a royal pregnancy to distract attention from the sleaze that's engulfing him.

Mon, 2011-07-18 01:35 — morris wise (not verified)

Blackmail has been promoted to its most dangerous level. Due to illegal wiretapping and phone hacking any public figure engaging in perverted sexual activities is now in jeopardy of being outed. Not since J. Edger Hoover kept dirt on every politician has the private affairs of politicians been in danger of being made public.

Mon, 2011-07-18 02:13 — Citizen Robespierre (not verified)

@Lou
i know judges have been known to be untrustworthy on such matters but we must place a degree of judgement in them, otherwise much of the basis on our legal system would collapse. Its like trusting a policeman or a NHS doctor, they are meant to be apolitical tools of the state, when they act otherwise it is a matter of concern, but blanket mistrust of them should not be a default setting.

I agree that it is still wrong to put too much power into judges hands, but someone has to define public interest or else all this fuss will simply mean endless stories on celebrities and crap that will only degrade the press even more and undermine privacy rights, while important issues like trafigura are overlooked.

Mon, 2011-07-18 09:20 — fairplay (not verified)

just goes to show, after all the shenanigans this week with NI, the police, government ministers etc etc that the big conspiracy j edgar hoover talked about actually does exist. i pray that one day accountability also comes to the banking sector and gulags are purposely built to house the degenerates who have been lying to and robbing the people for edcades if not centuries. let the revolution begin...........

Mon, 2011-07-18 09:34 — Freeman2

Perhaps now one by one they will all resign - the politicians, the police chiefs, the judges, the bosses. You've all taken the piss for too long so just go home and mind your own business. And we'll remake a better society.

Mon, 2011-07-18 09:40 — john henry (not verified)

The game's up Cameron. Time to go. You have been proven to be a snake oil merchant, now do the decent thing and "sling your hook". GFET OUT!

Mon, 2011-07-18 09:49 — John Lifebooks (not verified)

Irish citizens have a question to ask: How cozy was the relationship between disgraced Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and toxic media tycoon Rupert Murdoch?
And then a deeper question: How cozy was Mr. Murdoch’s company News International with the Irish Revenue?
More at: http://johnlifebooks.wordpress.com

Tue, 2011-07-19 14:27 — sangeairen

==== http://www.vogue7.us ====
==== http://www.vogue7.us ====
==== http://www.vogue7.us ====

Mon, 2011-07-18 10:55 — Anton Jury (not verified)

Whilst they are weeding out the people that are close friends of the Prime-Minister that were involved in Criminal Activities they should also focus on the Break Up of the National Health Service to see if that was legal because a number of Tories and close associates of David Cameron appear to financially gain out of it. Remember that David Cameron during the election campaign 2010 only promised to financially ring fence the National Health Service and protect it but within a week of becoming Prime-Minister David Cameron then said that they were going to Break up the National Health Service and sell big parts off letting close associates financially gain. I believe that if David Cameron surrounded himself with people that were involved in criminal activities then gave one of them a top job in Downing Street that required the upmost trust you cannot trust the Prime-Minister full stop.

What I am saying is that David Cameron is starting to look like you cannot trust him with anything and any matters regarding business, breaking up, selling off or any other matters involving money or gain should now be investigated because David Cameron has knowingly allowed someone involved with criminal activities to have a top job in Downing Street even though he and others knew that Andy Culson was involved with crime even before giving him that job.

Something also stinks with the way in which the Tories suddenly wanted to break up and sell off our NHS with certain people going to make a fortune out of it.

A full and thorough review needs to be carried out to see if this Government is acting within the law on many issues especially now people like Ady Culson have inflitrated the highest office in this land. Who knows what Andy Culson has been upto whilst in Downing Street and what other skeletons may be in the cupboards that Cameron will not reveal to protect his close friends.

Mon, 2011-07-18 11:10 — Bill Fraser (not verified)

Just a coincidence all this happens on the same day Rebekah Brooks is arrested?

Whatever the reasons it has provided another distraction... for the those behind the phone hacking scandal.

Andy Coulson so far has been an very effective distraction for the left...
letting the real culprits behind the phone hacking scandal of the hook as the debate about phone hacking and media ownership degenerates into cheap political point scoring.

Mon, 2011-07-18 11:28 — Lou (not verified)

@Bill

I think that NI have been playing a crafty game throughout, leaks to do with this, that and the other regarding politicians or the police - all coincidentally when NI are making the worst headlines - thus distracing from them and putting pressure back on the police and politicians. Whilst all have their part to play, ultimately the disease is NI and the rest are symptoms of it....it's some canny media management.

Or am I theorising a conspiracy?

Mon, 2011-07-18 12:54 — Bill Fraser (not verified)

Lou

No conspiracy... just some very canny media management.

You just have to look at how much Coulson and Cameron were the news
story this morning in comparison to the coverage that was given to the arrest of Rebeka Brooks...

If there is to be any chance of finding out the truth and of a genuine investigation into media ownership in the UK, the focus needs be on the real culprits behind this phone hacking scandal not the bit players.

Mon, 2011-07-18 13:05 — anticorruption (not verified)

how bloody bloody convenient the timely arrest of Ms brooks and resignation of Stephenson avoids them of being questioned by home affairs select committee on Tuesday do these people really think that joe public are really stupid to be conned with this flannel everytime the proverbial s... hits the fan the accused is conveniently ring fenced. Fraud is only possible if 3 elements exist which requires a fraudster and a victim and the abscence of a capable guardian organised criminals very rarely do their own dirty work and rely on others to do this for them the organised criminals best weapon is to KILL THE WITNESS. Now the Silly Fools Office is supposed to investage the MET and pull the wool over our eyes get someone independent in to investage this scandal such as the FBI or the SEC and then we shall see what this lot have to hide and what is being covered up.

Mon, 2011-07-18 13:48 — john henry (not verified)

I totally disagree that NI are the real culprits and all else are the symptoms. It is my view that the real villains are the Police. They have the information and NI were willing to pay for it which they did.
The corrupt police knew this and were only too willing to sell it to NI. The focus should be on the Police and everything else will fall into place.

Mon, 2011-07-18 17:34 — Lou (not verified)

Fair point john henry, I should have rephrased that as I mean that NI is the common denominator in all of the areas that are affected by this scandal. They are all equally important in terms of severity.

Sun, 2011-07-17 20:54 — Anton Jury (not verified)

It is now time for David Cameron to also hand in his resignation.

Sun, 2011-07-17 20:55 — gerry (not verified)

Great news!

The institutional corruption that is Met Police has been exposed for all to see...lets have Yates next, and the rest of the criminal/media nexus which is the untold story of this whole scandal.

And will any reporter on the NS start to tell the whole truth about how completely rotten and corrupt to the core this organisation is, and how only a full scale clean out can rescue it?

Sun, 2011-07-17 21:01 — Lou (not verified)

@citizen robespierre

...except it isn't, you wrote the very same under someone else's article last night.
The feeback therefore, be factually correct in all you commit to screen, integrity is a virtue for the budding blogger.

Sun, 2011-07-17 21:08 — swatantra nandanwar

Bloody Hell! The whole corrupt Establishment is collapsing like a House of Cards. It could even stretch to the Royals; surely they must be implicated somewhere down the line? And the Armed Service Chiefs?? And The Coalition???
The Proletariat must seize the day and take up arms and herald the dawn of a Peoples Republic.

Sun, 2011-07-17 21:24 — hugh markey (not verified)

The law of unintended consequences! The only new development we can think of where this two-edged dilemma presents is the nuclear question.
First build your bomb and then your power station. Reverse order! When the Tories and their side-kicks, the LibDems, were bewailing the size of public pensions they never once suspected they were putting a lot of peoples' pensions, both in the private and public sector, at risk. A kind of collateral damage!
Hopefully, by resigning, Sir Paul will avoid having had his career terminated by Tessie May and thus save his hard-earned pension into the bargain.

Scape Goat!

Sun, 2011-07-17 21:24 — Yahoorsur

phew and bloody hell,what a day,beka resigns,a fantastic finish in the 345 at Curragh and Stephenson resigns,whens Scamoron going? im sitting with a bag o popcorn,wonderful times!!!

Sun, 2011-07-17 21:26 — Citizen Robespierre (not verified)

@Lou
sorry if i annoyed you, im just trying to get it started.

Sun, 2011-07-17 21:30 — swatantra nandanwar

Resignations are like London buses. You wait ages for one and then, would you believe it, 3 come along one after the other.
Everyone must now be speculating who the 3rd will be. But my money is on Boris, after his RouteMaster and CityBikes fiascos and his trying to justify himself.