So What’s All This With Boris Johnson, £218,000 and Three Second-Hand Water Cannons?

Israeli Army water cannon used on Palestinian protesters (Picture: Rex)

Water cannons are used for riot control all over the world but it seems they will not get the run around in the UK.

This has somewhat left egg on the face of Boris Johnson who had recently authorised Scotland Yard to buy three second-hand water cannon for £218,000 from Germany.

Sadly for BoJo - the person who denied their usage was his rival for the Tory Leadership, Home Secretary Theresa May.

Not only has she banned their use but she declared this decision to the House of Commons - ouch.

The London Mayor had declared that this purchase would save the taxpayer £2.3 million in the long term, if given approval.

Home Secretary Theresa May, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and Mayor of London Boris Johnson in 2011 (Picture: Rex)

Mrs Theresa May told the House of Commons: ‘This country has a proud history of policing by consent and this is a decision which goes to its very heart.

‘But where the medical and scientific evidence suggests that those powers could cause serious harm, where the operational case is not clear, and where the historic principle of policing by consent could be placed at risk, I will not give my agreement.

‘The application for the authorisation of the Wasserwerfer 9000 water cannon does not meet that high threshold.’

This decision has been backed by Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper

So how did Boris Johnson take the ugly news - he gave this uncharacteristically restrained response: ‘Obviously I don’t necessarily agree with the conclusion.’

In addition, he wanted to remind the Home Secretary that London residents had backed the purchase with a majority of 68% and indeed ‘ the strong support of the Prime Minister’.

Very mature BoJo, very mature.