The Blair Ditch Project

Great fun watching the story of the sacking of London's Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. A lot of outrage coming from national politicans. Interestingly, the outrage seems to be less about the decision - by London's new mayor Boris Johnson - than the manner of it ('did not consult appropriately', 'did not follow process'). Yet for me the most significant aspect of the story so far, is that the mayor was prepared to take a decision - on his very first day as chair of the body to which the Commissioner reports - on a matter which has been festering for at least three years, which is hugely complex and highly politicial. Perhaps, after all, Boris has some of the important characteristics of a good leader.

Of course, it's much too early to tell whether the decision was the right one. But that's part of the challenge when you have that level of responsibility. You won't necessarily know for a while whether you made the right choice; you just know you have to choose.