Sir Paul Stephenson resigned
early on Sunday evening, after being criticised for hiring Neill
Wallis, the former News of the World executive, as a P.R. adviser.
Sir Paul stated in his resignation speech, that he had no idea
that Wallis had been involved in the NoW scandal, until Wallis
was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of conspiring to intercept
communications.
It turned out that, as Sir Paul said, he didn’t know Wallis
was involved in the phone hacking scandal, and in actual fact
it was the responsibility of his deputy Mr. Yates who did the
‘due diligence’ on Mr Wallis. Mr. Yates said he had
"received categorical assurances from Mr. Wallis that nothing
would emerge that would embarrass either of them or the commissioner".
On this basis Mr. Wallis’s company was awarded the P.R.
contract. Mr. Yates will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police
Authority, after there were calls for his resignation. To date
he has not resigned.
It wasn’t until Mr Wallis was arrested and released on bail
on Thursday on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications,
that Sir Paul was aware Wallis was under suspicion.
In his resignation statement, the outgoing
Met Police chief suggested that Mr Cameron's relationship with
Mr Coulson, his former Downing Street director of communications,
had caused him difficulties.
Mr Coulson, who resigned
from the No 10 job and earlier as News of the World editor over
the scandal, was subsequently arrested and bailed over his alleged
involvement in paying police officers and phone hacking.
In his statement, Sir Paul said: "Unlike
Mr Coulson, Mr Wallis had not resigned from News of the World
or, to the best of my knowledge, been in any way associated with
the original phone-hacking investigation." He said "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.
There has been outrage
from the Conservatives about Sir Paul’s reference to Andy
Coulson and the PM. The conservatives claim there is no comparison
at all.
Andy Coulson was arrested over his alleged involvement in paying
police officers and phone hacking.
Neill Wallis was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept
communications.
Obviously no comparison at all.
Sir Paul Stephenson resigned
because he was the top man, and that is where the buck stops.
David Cameron hasn’t resigned, although he is the top man
in the government, and accepts full responsibility. That’s
where the buck stops.
Obviously no comparison at all.
Rupert and James Murdock
are expected to resign: That’s where the buck stops.
The head of BP had to resign, over the latest oil spill: That’s
where the buck stops.
Obviously no comparison at all.
John Yates the Metropolitan Assistant commissioner
has now resigned. Further rvelations that a News of the World
reporter also worked for the Met as an interpreter, he had access
to classified material.
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Vic
Farron RFT
Express. .
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Tags: Phone
Hacking : Police
resignations : Vince
Cable : US
News Corp. Hinton resigns after 52 years : Cameron.
