The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

John Yates resigns

The assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has resigned.

By Samira Shackle Published 18 July 2011 15:19

John Yates has resigned. The Metropolitan Police made the following statement:

Assistant Commissioner John Yates has this afternoon indicated his intention to resign to the chair of the MPA [Metropolitan police authority]. This has been accepted. AC Yates will make a statement later this afternoon.

This follows reports this morning that Yates was to be suspended pending an investigation into his handling of the phone-hacking crisis and his relationship with former News of the World executive Neil Wallis.

Yates, who told Sky News this morning: "I have done nothing wrong", resigned before this suspension could take place.

He will be replaced temporarily by Cressida Dick.

Tags: Phone hacking scandal

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9 comments

Tue, 2011-07-19 07:59 — john henry (not verified)

The Tories have reverted to type: THE NASTY PARTY. No matter how much snake oil Cameron has used to try to change the perception of the Tories they truly are a bunch of nasty, crooks. Bent as a two bob bit! Let's have a General Election Now!

Tue, 2011-07-19 14:27 — sangeairen

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Mon, 2011-07-18 15:26 — Trojan Horace

Ten arrests and even more resignations and all of them have "done nothing wrong" isn't it amazing

Mon, 2011-07-18 15:40 — Anton Jury (not verified)

Time for David Cameron to also hand in his resignation because he employed a person (Andy Culson) known to have engaged in criminal activities then gave him a Top Job in Downing Street as Head of Communications that required the upmost trust even though it was common knowledge Andy Culson was implicated in crime.

I hope that David Cameron has time to think about his position and do the right thing whilst he is in South Africa.

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

If this keeps up, we can see Sherlock Holmes making a come-back. Even Private Eye's Inspector Knacker of the Yard stands a chance. Joyce Porter's Inspector Dover, the mutton-head, may make it to the top spot if they can get him out of the canteen.
It's a fair cop, guv!

Ernest the Policeman

Mon, 2011-07-18 17:48 — Freeman2

Yates to Dick (who ordered the killing of Menezes) - out of the frying pan into the fire I think.

Mon, 2011-07-18 19:55 — john henry (not verified)

Next?

Tue, 2011-07-19 01:34 — G1ga (not verified)

@Anton,

It was not "known" Coulson had engaged in criminal activities when he was appointed, it was alleged. Defend you side all you want, but don't lie.

And if Cameron should resign over Coulson, what should Ed do over Baldwin? Or do the rules only apply to Tories? Don't bother answering that, I know what the answer is. The accusation is that Baldwin, WORKING ON BEHALF OF LABOUR, paid a criminal to hack and blag private accounts and those of the Conservative Party. Not a whimper from the Left then or now.

Oh, and did Gordon resign over Draper, McBride and Maguire? A No10 official, working directly for Gordon, conspired with a Labour official and a Mirror journalist to create an independent web site to spread false, vicious rumours about Conservative politicians and their wives. Did you call for his head? Did you call for Gordon to go when you heard one of his chief lieutenants worked on a fabricated story that George Osborne's wife was mentally ill, or that an unnamed Conservative MP's wife had STDs from screwing around?