Published: June 1st 2010 - at 10:15 amDe Menezes family: Ian Blair peerage ‘insult’
A spokesperson for the J4J (Justice For Jean) campaign last week condemned the decision to give former Met Police chief Ian Blair a peerage as an “insult”.
This seems like a final flourish of a discredited Parliamentary system handing out tawdry awards to political allies and cronies. Actions like this only reinforce the impression that politicians remain detached from the views of ordinary British people.
Jean Charles De Menezes was shot by Met Police officers in 2005. An investigation later showed the Met Police repeatedly tried to block the inquiry into his death.
Vivian Figuereda, cousin of Jean Charles de Menezes, who lived with him at the time of his death said:
We are disgusted at this decision. As Commissioner, we believe Ian Blair was ultimately accountable for the death of Jean, for the lies told and the cover up. He even tried to stop the IPCC investigating our cousin’s death. This is a final slap in the face for our family.
Blogger Kevin Blowe added:
Quite how someone, who deliberately delayed an investigation into a hugely controversial death and whose force was found to have made nineteen catastrophic errors that endangered the lives of Londoners, could ever been viewed as fit to serve in the House of Lords, or provide the benefits of his ‘specialist knowledge’, is quite beyond me. Once again, it rather makes the case for the abolition of the Lords so that such blatant acts of patronage are no longer possible.
Indeed.
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Chris is a regular contributor to Liberal Conspiracy. He is an aspiring journalist and reports stories for LC.
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Reader comments
Sir Ian’s actions go further than merely delaying the IPCC investigation, in his letter sent to Sir John Gieve, Home Office Permanent Secretary, he confirms that he understands his mandatory obligation under s.17 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
However, he clearly states that he has no intention to refer the Stockwell shooting to the IPCC, disobeying a lawful order; wilful misconduct in public office.
Arise Lord Blair of Stockwell.
Really sounds good doesnt it?
Just what we need in the HoL.
I don’t think
Wot honest guv said.
OP,
makes the case for the abolition of the Lords so that such blatant acts of patronage are no longer possible.
Non sequitur.
Another good argument against the HoL, (alongside Lord’s Archer and Mandleson). How this man can live with himself after parroting all those lies about De Menezes, (he ran, he jumped the gate, he was wearing a bulky jacket, etc. etc.), immediately after the event, after, under his command, an innocent man was basically executed by British police, beggers belief.
Another good argument against the HoL,
I don’t understand how this is a good argument against the HoL. I do understand how it is a good argument against the current procedure for giving peerages.
Its important to differentiate between Blair’s position as leader of the Met at the time of Menezes’ killing and the coppers who actually shot him. Blair must take responsibility for the poor quality of the operation, instead he tried to cover up the failures of the Met and to smear the victim. He was supported by statements made by Ken Livingstone and the government at the time.
I think the coppers who actually shot Menezes deserve some recognition for their bravery and sympathy for what happened. As far as they knew they were dealing with a suicide bomber who could detonate himself at any time. They must have been devastated to find it had all been a mistake because the operation was intrinsically flawed.
We should remind ourselves that its not only Blair who has got away scot free: Other senior officers who must have some responsibility have not, in my opinion, properly answered for what happened.
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- Cosmodaddy » Blog Archive » De Menezes Family Condemn Ian Blair Peerage
[...] De Menezes Family Condemn Ian Blair Peerage Posted: June 1st, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Politics, government | Tags: House of Lords, J4J, Jean Charles de Menezes, Justice for Jean, Kevin Blower, Metropolitan Police, murder, police, Sir Ian Blair, Vivian Figuereda | No Comments » (cross-posted from Liberal Conspiracy) [...]
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