The Metropolitan Police Federation has declared "no faith" in London Mayor Sadiq Khan after he forced Dame Cressida Dick to quit as Commissioner last week.
The body representing some 31,000 rank and file officers officers claim the Mayor has “undermined the professional, dedicated and incredibly difficult work" of cops working in the capital.
It comes after Mr Khan made clear to the outgoing Met Police Commissioner he had no confidence in her plans to reform the service.
The move followed a series of scandals, including the handling of Sarah Everard's murder by a serving officer.
Mr Khan said the report by police watchdog the IOPC, into officers at Charing Cross Police Station - which unearthed shocking racism and misogyny exchanged between serving cops - had been the last straw.
Accusing politicians of using “policing and the career of the country’s most senior police leader to deflect from their own failings”, Ken Marsh, chairman of the Federation, said: “This is not a move we take lightly.
“We have let the Mayor’s office know in no uncertain terms how our brave and diligent colleagues deserve better.
“The atmosphere amongst Metropolitan Police officers is horrendous – it’s rock bottom. Officers in London feel saddened and angry that The Commissioner Cressida Dick has been pushed out in the way she has. She was reforming. She was changing. The culture is changing. We are deeply disappointed with the actions of the Mayor.
“The hard work of our colleagues – and public trust in our colleagues – is being undermined by politicians. And by the Mayor of London in particular. The continuing scaremongering, sniping and sweeping statements are causing disaffection with the public… not the thousands and thousands of hard-working officers who are out there keeping people safe.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said on Monday: “It is the Mayor’s job to stand up for Londoners and hold the police to account on their behalf, as well to support the police in bearing down on crime.
“With trust in the police among Londoners shattered following a series of devastating scandals exposing evidence of racism, misogyny, homophobia, harassment and discrimination in the Met, it was the Mayor’s view that a change of leadership was the only way to address this crisis in trust.
“The Mayor has always made clear that there are thousands of incredibly brave and decent police officers at the Met, who we owe a huge debt of gratitude. But the series of scandals seen in recent years has tarnished the reputation of the police, which is so crucial to policing by consent. Downplaying the scale of the change required is only going to hinder, not help, the vital process of restoring Londoners’ trust in the Met.”Mr Marsh said cops had been "sickened" by the report on officers at Charing Cross, and added: "But they are not reflective of an entire workforce, despite the narrative being pushed."
Mr Marsh said the series of scandals that had hit the Met should be put in context, however.
He said: "We've got to put some context on what we are talking about. The incidents that have taken place are horrific. We do not want these individuals in the job.
"But the federation will continue to speak up for our good officers. We totally accept that we have to deliver for the public and work to improve confidence, but if you haven't got your workforce with you then you are not going to achieve what you're setting out to achieve."
Mr Khan and Home Secretary Priti Patel will appoint a new Met Police Commissioner in the coming weeks.
The Mayor said last week of Dame Cressida: "It’s clear that the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top of the Metropolitan Police."
