The Tories should leave it at that

Chuck Unsworth

Yes, but this would not have happened had Quick demonstrated any commonsense. It's not the Tories who are prolonging the matter and raising the profile of the episode - it's Quick in this instance. As to Watt - let him name his 'source' if he wants to retain any credibility.

You call it information, I call it fiction until corroborated. Rather like police evidence, then.

David

Grieve is right. The story will continue, and the press will ask questions about just what on earth Quick thought he was doing, and whether the Met is indeed as political as some feared. But the Tories don't need to get on that act, or they'll look bullying.

Verity

Bob Quick should be hounded out of office with the utmost viciousness. Just as the Marxists/Gramscis would have done in a reverse situation.

The rump of the Tory press should publish stories about his wife, her business, how much she paid for those cars, and his private life. They should investigate his expense reports. They should monitor every detail of his life on the job and make a tragic mountain out of every molehill. They should find out what his house is worth on the market. Where they shop. They should run constant photographs of his wife.

The Marxists/Trots/Gramscis need a large dose of their own medicine forced down their throats. And lose sleep with worry.

That arrest of Dominic Grieve was a political arrest. And Quick wants to make an issue of people noticing it.

Well, if he wants an issue, let's give him some big ones to chew on. Someone as sly and aggressive as he is has something to hide.

Outer Circle

I watched the film V the other night. Was a pretty chilling movie, sorted of reminded me of GB.

luke

Totally agree with this. Good article. Apology was justified, tories will do much better out of accepting it grafefully and moving on - not seeking to damage an officer's career.

Tiberius

In normal circumstances, Peter, I would agree that the Tories should leave it at that. But, as far as I am concerned, Queensberry rules should be suspended as a re-magnetized NuLab machine is attracting back the voting iron filings, putting a decent Tory election win and the welfare of the country at risk.

The Tories undoubtedly have the equivalent of Mandelsonian or Hainian weapons in their ranks, which keep the front bench out of the range of return fire. Perhaps they should start using them more.

Susan Hill

I fear that the Tory problem is that they have no coherent message on the economy. They simply do not know what they would do. So it`s easier to focus on Green/Quick - and next week there will be some other diversion for them,to be eagerly seized upon as a displacement activity for serious economic thinking.

Obnoxio The Clown

Funny, really, the Tories are described as "do-nothing" which pisses people off, but when they have a chance to do something, people are quick (ha! ha!) to tell them to leave it alone.

No wonder they've given up.

Verity

Luke - One hundred per cent incorrect. The Tories do not have to accept and "apology" wrung out of him with force. They shouldn't just damage this officer's career - they should terminate it. He's a vicious piece of work and he has politicised his job.

David

Susan, Quick brought this up again by complaining about the article, and the Tories have closed the lid on it from their point of view. Why don't you comment on what is actually going on, rather than what Mandelson/Draper pays you to say?

Chuck Unsworth

@ Luke

'Not seeking to damage an officers career' Any evidence for this further/new slur at all?

catesby

No, the Damian Green affair should not be allowed simply to peter out.

The Police and the Home Office must be forced to explain why arrests and searches were made in circumstances where nothing unlawful had taken place.

It is not a criminal offence to leak information that is not covered by the Official Secrets Act.

Still less is it a criminal offence for an MP to receive such information.

As for Quick, Grieve is being too polite. If this bumbling buffoon is all that stands between us and Al-Qaeda, then God help us.

Perry

"tories will do much better out of accepting it grafefully and moving on - not seeking to damage an officer's career."

Well, then the Tories will have deserved the treatment they get from our politicised police and all the rest that may be in store for them(and us).

Kevyn Bodman

I would bet a LOT of money that Susan Hill is not,in fact, in the pay of Mandelson/Draper.
And I think she's right that the Conservatives have not yet got a coherent economic message.
Such a message is badly needed.

JONNY

'Tory problem is that they have no coherent message on the economy.'
Exactly what sort of coherent message would you advise then Susan Hill?
Any ideas yourself?

Sally Chatterjee

People are losing their jobs. The Conservatives can continue to press the case about Quick but behind the scenes.

But to the public at large, they need to offer real alternative visions for Britain.

TrevorsDen

No coherent message?

They have just published their own Draft Bill on underwriting bank borrowing to businesses.

Just because the BBC do not report Conservative initiatives does not mean they do not exist. Nor does it mean the govt won't steal it in the new year.

frank goddard

Luke.
Disagree,they should now attack the home secretary,for it is plain to see that she gave the police the nod and wink to go ahead for the arrest of Green.What venom she shows on interviews when talking about the Tories.
Susan
Obviously you don't listen to what the Tories are saying, and have been saying for the past two years.Look at their manifesto,and for your obvious ignorance of their immediate plan for the economy....A moratorium on council tax for two years,putting twenty to forty pound a week in people's pockets to spend....A loans guarantee to small busines's to help them out of their crise's(not pay back at high interest rates like NuLabour)....Holding back on VAT for six months for small busines's and many more incentives to get the economy moving and not stagnating it with stupid Vat cuts and Bank Loans of taxpayers money to be repaid at TWELVE %,when the bank rate is only THREE %,typical Labour ,could not organise a p..s up in a brewery.

JONNY

Only very slight problem there Kevyn Bodman is that the correct economic message (assuming such a figment of the imagination actually exists) would be political suicide.
Did you happen to know that any political party's main raison d'etre is to at least try and get elected.

Old Hack

Grieve is correct to call into question Quick's continuing role in the Green investigation. However, having said so, let others in the press take up the cause.

Quick will likely be moved or sacked anyway. His professionalism cannot be restored by the issue of an apology.

Verity

Perry - Quite. Are you the Perry?

Sally Chatterjeee, agree, but why can't they do both? Are you saying the Tories can't walk and chew gum and the same time?

Don

Bit worried myself, is this moron the best we've got in the fight against Al-Quaida?

David Lindsay

So great is the "terrorist threat", for the sake of which we must abandon every liberty, that those employed to police it have the time, not only to pursue Damian Green of all people, but also to run a wedding car hire business from the boss's house. It puts me in mind of the stories that I have heard of yesteryear, when Councillors got their extensions built by Council workmen, on Council time and from Council materials.

Oh, well, Bob Quick has interfered (not for the first time) in politics. He has only himself to blame.

Cjno

Has anyone ever seen Jacqui Smith and Bob Quick in the same room at the same time?

Gerard

TrevorsDen,

"Just because the BBC do not report Conservative initiatives does not mean they do not exist."

This seems to be, indeed, a serious problem - the extinction of the impartial arbiters.

The politicisation of our once independent institutions, such as the Police, the BBC etc. can skew the political contest and render the messages of the opposition inaudible and ineffective.

luke

Verity - I jsut disagree with you. Politicians should not appoint themselves the custodians of individual public servants career prospects. Noone will do well out of that. Time for the tories to depart the field with heads held high and let those who are Quick's superior officers work out what the consequences are for him.

Chuck - I feel verity answers your point better than I could alone. I am not smearing anyone, but there are calls to push it further and get him sacked (such as verity's) and I am saying the tories would be right to resist those calls.

Forlornehope

What were the security implications of running a car hire firm from his house? It does have a sort of Gilbert and Sullivan or Ealing Comedy flavour, very British but not very professional. Did he really think that this could be anything other than a risk to himself and his family? What does this say about his judgement on the security of the rest of us?

luke

Cant help but feel that Peter is spot on here and its amazing that alot of posters cant see it.

Sure the tories could press home for a hard won complete vindication of this specific slight by forcing this officer to resign and dragging him through the mud. He made a mistake and if they really push it, the tories will win this little battle.

But surely the right answer is to set their sights on the bigger fight. Taking out an officer will debase all involved. Much better to walk away head held high and pick on people your own size.

Verity

Luke, I appreciate the courtesy of your reply, but I think it is time for the Tories to claim some scalps. And display them. This Quick jerk has handed them his scalp on a platter. There is indeed an Ealing comedyesque atmosphere to a terrorist chief running a wedding car hire business from his home. I wonder what role there would be for Kenneth Williams in this ...

Labour isn't scared of the Tories. They need to be.

Obnoxio The Clown

luke, I'm sure the police feel just like that when they pick on Colin Stagg, Barry George photographers, journalists and opposition politicians: "Don't sack us for our utter incompetence and arrogance, it will only deman you."

Verity

Weak. Weak. Weak.

Labour apparachiks have got to be scared to death to pull anything similar in future. ("I dunno, Peter. Remember what happened to Bob Quick ...")

Chuck Unsworth

@ Luke

Then again, maybe the Tories should take a leaf from Mandelson's Little Book of Vindictiveness and Hatred. Frankly I think Johnson got it right when he told Ian Blair that he would not be able to work with him. There was an upsurge in Johnson's credibility and popularity at that time. Far from debasing all involved it showed that Johnson was not going to stand for any messing about by unelected amateur politico cops - and many welcomed that stance.

Why on earth should the Tories tolerate the continuance in post of an officer who is investigating the Damien Green affair - an officer who has already clearly set out his political position as being anti-tory? Had the idiot Quick been sensible enough to make a full apology, to aver that he would never allow his political view to influence his professional judgement (if indeed that could be made to look credible) he might have got away with it. Instead he has issued the usual nonsense about apologising if his remarks caused offence (i.e. he doesn't recognise his remarks as being offensive - why not?). Next we'll be hearing that his remarks were 'misunderstood'.

It's high time that those who live by the sword should find themselves on, or at least facing, the nasty sharp pointy bit.

TGF UKIP

When Tiberius and Verity essentially agree that the Tories should put the knuckledusters on, it really is time CCHQ to take notice.

Not that this limp, lame bunch of wimps and wets could take the fight to the skin of a rice pudding though.

Or is, for once, your boy going to prove me wrong, Tiberius?

Nick

If the Head of the Met's Anti-Terrorism Unit is supposed to be protecting us from terrorists on a daily basis, as the Home Secretary pleaded on his behalf (referring to him as "Bob"; rather too familiar in my view), why on earth was he leading the investigation into Damian Green? I agree with Chris Huhne that he should stand down from the investigation. In fact, the way he seems to have such a politicised approach to policing, perhaps he should be removed from the crucial postion he holds, at an opportune time.

Tiberius

Knuckledusters are too crude, mate, as any New Labour acolyte would testify.

It has to be sabotage; and please don't bracket me with Verity - she's too in yer face.

Verity

Tiberius - This isn't Talleyrand. It's NuLabour. Inyerface.

I agree with Nick. What on earth was the Home Secretary doing referring to the man who is supposed to be monitoring Islamic terrorists as "Bob"? Has she no sense of occasion? (Rhetorical.)

And the home address of who Ian Fleming referred to as M, is not only mentioned, but his wife is running a little bizzy on rental cars out of their home?

Does it get any more disgraceful?

Surely this is the trashiest government any country has ever endured? I don't mean the most wicked. I don't mean the most incompetent.

I mean trash.

Garbage people lying to their masters, the taxpayers. No wonder they all look so sly and covert.

Jack Straw's a right covert. So's Gordon Brown. So's Jacqui Wotsits.

Verity

I don't want to be bracketed with Tiberius. He's too nuanced.

Andy Leeds

I think most of us realize that Quick's comments revealed just how the senior officers in the Met think. They are basically Labour clones. The Home Secretary's comments - calling him 'Bob' and then denying his remarks showed a political bias and an unsuitability to head the investigation into Damian Green - merely underlined all we knew. He needs to go, but then again the whole top brass at the Met need a damn good sort out.