Ex-police chief slams Blunkett
A former police chief has launched a personal attack on ex-home secretary David Blunkett.
In his memoirs serialised in the News of the World, ex-Met police chief Lord John Stevens described cabinet minister David Blunkett as a “lying, backstabbing bully”.
He claimed Mr Blunkett had little knowledge of policing and accused him of using the September 11th terror attacks in the US to undermine senior policeman.
Sir John said Mr Blunkett, now work and pensions secretary, had accused police of “over-reacting” to the terror threat less than two years before the July bomb attacks in London.
The peer also suggested the Sheffield Brightside MP had undermined the work done by predecessor Jack Straw in fostering a sound working relationship between government and the police.
“Police chiefs should have good working relationships with the home secretary,” he said.
“For years I had absolutely no problems with Michael Howard nor with Jack Straw. Then, in the form of David Blunkett there came along a new home secretary who knew very little about policing. Many felt he took office ready-armed with an anti-police agenda.”
Sir John said it was his view that Mr Blunkett leaked many damaging stories about him to the press, citing an example of a newspaper story detailing the contents of a meeting where Mr Blunkett and Sir John were the only people present.
Lord Stevens retired earlier this year.
His book is called Not For the Faint-Hearted.
Separately, Mr Blair is chewing over the re-appointment of Mr Blunkett as home secretary in a cabinet reshuffle expected to take place in December, according to the Sunday newspapers.
Should the rumour hold water, he could replace Charles Clarke, who the prime minister reportedly considers “soft on crime”.
