Police chief says sorry for Tory party accusation

Britain's anti-terror chief made an unreserved apology to the Conservative Party today for accusing it of trying to undermine a Whitehall leaks inquiry.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick retracted his remarks hours after Tory leader David Cameron demanded he withdraw the "completely baseless" allegations.

Mr Quick said: I have now reflected on the comments I made yesterday at a difficult time for me and my family.

"I wish to make clear that it was not my intention to make any allegations and retract my comments. I apologise unreservedly for any offence or embarrassment that I have caused."

Former shadow home secretary David Davis said Mr Quick's apology marked an end to the incident.

He told BBC News 24: "Most members of Parliament have had this sort of pressure on them at one time or another.

"And it's tough when the pressure is focusing on you. He responded in a very human way and as far as I'm concerned, it's over.

"It should be put behind us and the issue now is his job, which is very, very important and we want him to do that."

In a brief statement, the Conservative Party said they accepted the apology and now considered the matter closed.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "We accept Assistant Commissioner Quick's unreserved apology and this draws a line under the matter."

Speaking of the row during a visit to a community centre in Birmingham this morning, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I know Bob has now retracted some of the things that he said over the weekend and I think the most important thing is that he is able to get on with the job of keeping this country safe, which is what he does day in, day out as our most senior counter-terror police officer."

Mr Grieve said Mr Quick should consider his position at the head of the Damian Green inquiry.

Asked if he was happy for the deputy commissioner to continue to lead the investigation, he told BBC News 24: "It seems to me that the proper course of action is for Mr Quick to reflect on whether he has maintained the necessary objectivity to continue with this investigation.

"That is doubtless a matter which, as a professional police officer, he can discuss professionally with his colleagues and I don't think it is for me to say one way or another."