The Evening Standard today features a story about the cost of VIP and Royal protection which Sir Paul Stephenson has complained to the government about. The story is illustrated by pictures Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie the implication being that they are the cuts he would like to make. I have not heard Sir Paul complaining about the cost of protecting Tony and Cherie Blair, their children and their numerous houses or the cost of protecting Mr and Mrs Gordon Brown who now travel about in a motorcade with motorcycle outriders. The decision to highlight Royals in preference to politicians is clearly a political one and I find it extremely offensive. I would like Boris to remind Sir Paul that he is there to protect London and its citizens and not to make political statements in support of Republicans in the run-up to an election.