There was a brief discussion at this morning's conference -- the last one before the Christmas slow-down -- about Sir Ian Blair's 8.10am interview on the Today programme.
In it he justified his staying on at the top job in the Met on the ground that the failings of one extraordinary day -- a reference to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell in 2005-- did not justify his removal. He said that if he believed his staying on would damage the service then he would go, but he was appointed to reform the Met and he is continuing to do that. He didn't "at any stage" consider resigning, adding, "I'm a bit of a limpet, really."
He also expressed regret at the departure of his anti-terrorism chief, Andy Hayman, saying his resignation was "most unfortunate".
The feeling from some Met-watchers in conference was that Blair is now safe, having weathered the storm, and Hayman was the one who took the bullet.
Blair also commented on the dispute over police pay and played to the gallery by disagreeing with the government's position and siding with his officers when he said: "I'm in the same place as they are".
So, a good day for Sir Ian Blair, but not such a good one for Sir Ronnie Flanagan, head of the Northern Ireland police at the time of the Omagh bombing and now chief inspector of constabulary for the UK. His name has been mentioned as one of the possible successors to Sir Ian at the Met, but his chances have surely diminished following the severe criticism of the investigation yesterday by the judge in the bombing case and calls by the families of some of the victims for Sir Ronnie's resignation.
Morning conference will be suspended now for the rest of the festive season. The usual formal news meetings will take place at various times during each day but the next general gathering will be on or around January 2.
Happy Christmas.