Sir Paul Stephenson resigns

By politics.co.uk staff

Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned as Metropolitan police commissioner in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.

The resignation follows another dramatic day of developments across London, as Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the News of the World, was arrested and questioned by police over allegations of phone-hacking and payments to police.

While news of the arrest spread, Sir Paul endured a day of controversy over his relationship with Neil Wallis, a former executive editor at the News Of The World. Mr Wallis had been linked to the Met via a communications consultancy role and as PR of a health spa where the Met commissioner had stayed, saving up to £12,000.

Sir Paul said: "The contracting of Mr Wallis only became of relevance when his name became linked with the new investigation into phone hacking.

"I recognise that the interests of transparency might have made earlier disclosure of this information desirable. However my priority, despite the embarrassment it might
cause, has been to maintain the integrity of Operation Weeting [the current police investigation into phone-hacking].

"To make it public would have immediately tainted him and potentially compromised
any future Operation Weeting action."