Blair resigns as UK police chief

Ian Blair announced his resignation as Metropolitan Police Commissioner today, saying: "I am resigning in the best interests of the people of London and the Metropolitan Police Service."

He defended his record at the top of the Met and said it was the duty of the commissioner to lead the force "through good times and bad".

He said he would leave the job on December 1 after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had "reluctantly but graciously" accepted his resignation.

"I am resigning not because of any failures of my service and not because the pressures of the office and the many stories that surround it are too much," he said.

"I am resigning in the best interests of the people of London and of the Metropolitan Police Service."

He said he had wanted to stay on until his contract ran out in February 2010.

"However, at a meeting yesterday the new mayor made clear, in a very pleasant and determined way, that he wished there to be a change of leadership at the Met."