Mayor and Smith agree on best candidate for Met

THE new Metropolitan Police Commissioner is due to be announced in Parliament within the next 36 hours after Jacqui Smith and Boris Johnson reached agreement on the appointment last night.

The successful candidate has to be approved by the Queen but is expected to be named by the end of tomorrow.

The decision follows a final interview session yesterday at which the two remaining contenders, Met Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Northern Ireland Police chief Sir Hugh Orde, were jointly questioned by the Home Secretary and the Mayor.

Ms Smith, who has the legal power to make the final recommendation, reached agreement with Mr Johnson as to their preferred choice shortly afterwards.

The pair clashed last year over the removal of previous Met chief Sir Ian Blair, which was instigated by Mr Johnson.