Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed

One of the more serious questions following the Prime Minister’s statement in Parliament was from Caroline Lucas concerning the government’s plans to roll out elected police commissioners next year. She asked David Cameron:

“Will the Prime Minister immediately put on hold his plans to introduce elected police commissioners while we learn on the lessons of the last week. Because we should reflect on the risks of things being swept under the carpet if we put someone whose sole political fortunes depends on a force which they are in charge of holding to account.”

The Prime Minister responded that it was precisely because of situations like the hacking scandal that police commissioners were needed. One would think the government would have evidence from trials to show this. Well, in fact, ministers claim that elected police commissioners have been trialled. On BBC 1′s Politics Show on June 5, police and justice minister Nick Herbert said:

“We believe that the trial has already effectively taken place in London because the Mayor is responsible for the police now in London… we’re not going to pilot this, the first elections will be held in 2012.”

That would be the mayor who stepped down from his role as Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, because, what with having to write a £250,000 per year Daily Telegraph collumn, he just did not have time – and on whose watch the phonehacking scandal continued to go without being properly investigated.

In fact, as has been well-documented, Boris Johnson claimed the entire idea of there being more to the phonehacking scandal than two rogue reporters was “codswallop“. This is a scandal that now involves allegations not just concerning the illegal activities of a newspaper, but the ability of that newspaper to ensure that it wasn’t held accountable, either through close contacts with the police or outright bribery.

We are talking about nothing less than the failure to uphold the rule of law in the capital. It is partially Boris’s failure, either due to his own personal performance or the problems attached to elected heads of police. If, as Nick Herbert is right, it has been trialled, it follows that it has failed.

Just when we need to be erecting firewalls between the police, politicians and the press, the government is tearing them down.

http://twitter.com/bipolarbearmd/status/93709600712429568 TheBiPolarBearMD

Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris : http://bit.ly/rmVqju writes @DanielElton #keeppoliticsoutofpolicing
http://twitter.com/jennytingle83/status/93711118727524352 Jenny Tingle

Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris : http://bit.ly/rmVqju writes @DanielElton #keeppoliticsoutofpolicing
http://twitter.com/yourthurrock/status/93714173552369664 yourthurrock

Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed: http://t.co/eEStAA4 writes @DanielElton
http://twitter.com/cllrwalshaw/status/93715414198140928 Neil Walshaw

Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed: http://t.co/eEStAA4 writes @DanielElton
http://twitter.com/darrenjohnsonam/status/93720845016510464 Darren Johnson

Caroline Lucas questions PM on elected police chiefs @LeftFootForward http://bit.ly/oZLNwG #Hackgate
http://twitter.com/apogonowski/status/93725019334656000 Adam Pogonowski

Caroline Lucas questions PM on elected police chiefs @LeftFootForward http://bit.ly/oZLNwG #Hackgate
http://twitter.com/carolinelucas/status/93727215732260865 Caroline Lucas

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/pricepie/status/93727268278501376 PricePie

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/mr_ceebs/status/93727266646921218 mr_ceebs

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/virgintalent/status/93727283977797632 Norman Dittberner

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/millandson/status/93727341255196672 Jordan Millward

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/johncbayliss/status/93727407273553920 John Charles Bayliss

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/redfoxcountry/status/93727912758489088 Tony Martin

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/jolph/status/93728175472918528 Jonathan Kent

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/hazew/status/93728630982709248 HazeW

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/christoclifford/status/93728690579578880 christine clifford

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/arielmanto_/status/93728768530726913 Mr. Y

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/carbonised/status/93729774270291970 Rebecca Devitt

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/brightonbeaker/status/93730040927363073 Ian Evans

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/emilyjmacaulay/status/93730420411211776 Emily Macaulay

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/peg_alexander/status/93730590809014272 Keeping W8 Off

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/mdkent/status/93730612204146688 Matt Kent

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/93730878483742720 Andy S

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/minidvr/status/93731235255435265 ukviewer

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/avichai15/status/93732403268423680 Paul McGlynn

Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed: http://t.co/eEStAA4 writes @DanielElton
http://twitter.com/anubeon/status/93732469198692352 Lee Hyde

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/93732563465674753 steve white

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/howarthm/status/93732617391841280 Meg Howarth

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/logicelf/status/93734767744401408 logicelf

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/keithpp/status/93735131340218368 Keith Parkins

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/boblyp/status/93735288714694656 Bob Proctor

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/hemingwayross/status/93736032469651456 Ross Hemingway

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/sirenofbrixton/status/93736466684981250 Siren of Brixton

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/93736580145098753 BendyGirl

RT @leftfootfwd: Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed http://t.co/Zjjbo0e
http://twitter.com/green_caroline/status/93736620653682688 Caroline Allen

RT @DarrenJohnsonAM Caroline Lucas questions PM on elected police chiefs @LeftFootForward http://t.co/Im0Eg6F #Hackgate
http://twitter.com/mrgreengus/status/93737188960899072 Gus Hoyt

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/engelbert1969/status/93737910788038657 Steve Halley

RT @leftfootfwd: Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed http://t.co/Zjjbo0e
http://twitter.com/lmwalter/status/93739577340211200 Luke Walter

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/siouxzmitch/status/93742272960663553 Sue Mitchell

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/workshylodger/status/93742734271197184 James John

Yes I agree RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/neil_christian/status/93744640657854464 Neil Christian

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/philbstar/status/93744803694649344 Phil Burns

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/greenjennyjones/status/93745000696905728 Jenny Jones

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
Dave Citizen

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the same Johnson geezer who thought that the people responsible for running the biggest Council’s in the country shouldn’t get paid £250,000 per year?

What the hell is going on in this place??!!
http://twitter.com/dieselblaze/status/93758883809595392 bill bloggs

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/osirisdemeter/status/93762376335233024 osiris

RT @leftfootfwd: Ministers say judge elected police commissioners on Boris: Well, Boris has failed http://t.co/8ojMYWX
http://twitter.com/jeffreynewman/status/93762540382855168 Jeffrey Newman

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/merleneemerson/status/93763834426294274 Merlene Emerson

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/rockclinic/status/93769061447647233 The Rock Clinic

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/thegreenparty/status/93770744961568768 The Green Party

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/cjester27/status/93771290351124480 Sarah Dillon

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/politicallybrit/status/93772164448256000 Brit Lefit

RT @TheGreenParty: RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commi… http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/chalkface2009/status/93772365846159360 Dave Ludlam

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/neodissedent/status/93774373449764864 haynony mouse

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/cantala59/status/93782030243999744 Sally Guyer

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/david_4_esurrey/status/93783108998012929 David Lee

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/jasonkitcat/status/93787551143440384 Jason Kitcat

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/demsoc/status/93787611675639808 Democratic Society

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/annaturley/status/93789817883738113 Anna Turley

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/somerstowngreen/status/93791198828953600 Matty Mitford

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/dodlink/status/93796610546470912 Delphine Houlton

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/threadbarepanda/status/93802705432219650 Panda

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/green_caroline/status/93804663719198720 Caroline Allen

Can't help but think that @CarolineLucas asked one of the most insightful question of the day http://t.co/HaDHH1J
Leon Wolfson

…Tories

Really, Dave, easy question.
Mr. Sensible

Daniel, I think you’re absolutely right.

If anything, these events provide further evidence as to why we should not proceed with this policy, which remains an expensive mistake.

The proposal got kicked in to touch when the bill received its second reading in the House of Lords, and there it should stay.
http://twitter.com/jeffreynewman/status/93807753700708355 Jeffrey Newman

How & where elected Commissioners of Police has already been shown to fail in UK http://bit.ly/ocuxyr
http://twitter.com/gordoning/status/93807866003193856 gordoning

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/mdkent/status/93808104076091393 Matt Kent

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/bobirving99/status/93808300939948032 Bob Irving

Can't help but think that @CarolineLucas asked one of the most insightful question of the day http://t.co/HaDHH1J
http://twitter.com/annemcooper500/status/93808877237317632 paAnne Cooper

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/vickiwhelan/status/93808969168068608 vicki whelan

Can't help but think that @CarolineLucas asked one of the most insightful question of the day http://t.co/HaDHH1J
http://twitter.com/ldgirl4toryboy/status/93822169695535104 Libdem Girl

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/hlcheathrow/status/93838334870298624 Jon Purdom/Paco Saez

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/hlcheathrow/status/93839881121435648 Jon Purdom/Paco Saez

Greens Caroline Lucas makes good point ConDems "elected police commissioners" bad idea. Would need media support 4 votes http://t.co/QCU2JfV
http://twitter.com/oldgitron/status/93916008322056194 Ronald Pogue

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/subtleblade/status/94033238108024832 Dennis North

MT @CarolineLucas: Why hacking fall-out should give cause to question proposed elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #MetGate
http://twitter.com/eternity_ended/status/94033908777222144 Callum Findlay

RT @CarolineLucas Why #hackgate should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://t.co/IY1FVIZ
http://twitter.com/mmichael0/status/94074870559805442 Michael Turner

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/kemptownben/status/94207776598933504 Ben Duncan

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/pyrmontvillage/status/94519209446490112 Pyrmontvillage

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/judyvw2/status/94523081028153345 judy woodman

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/pigreen/status/100163872379502592 pigreen

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/music4anon/status/102308456937168896 Music4Anon

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/walsallwolvesgp/status/102322512850976768 Walsall & Wolves GP

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/dogcatchicken/status/102322518098067456 Tim

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch
http://twitter.com/cosmiclandmine/status/106735583983972352 Cosmic Landmine

Why hacking fall-out should give us cause to question proposal for elected police commissioners http://bit.ly/ocuxyr #hackgate #murdoch