By a Newsnet reporter
The recently appointed Chief Whip of the Conservative Party, Andrew Mitchell MP (pictured at right), is coming under increasing pressure to resign after reportedly verbally abusing a police officer guarding Downing Street. According to the Sun newspaper, Mr Mitchell called the officer "a f*****g pleb" and demanded that he "learn his place", after the officer requested that Mr Mitchell exited Downing St via a pedestrian side entrance and not the main gate.
The Sun reported that in an obscenity laden tirade, Mr Mitchell yelled at the officer:
"Best you learn your f*****g place. You don't run this f*****g government. You're f*****g plebs."
Although Mr Mitchell, who was shadow police minister while the Conservatives were in opposition, has apologised for not treating officers with due respect he has denied using the language reported. However police claim that at least two officers who were present at the incident heard the Tory Whip's outburst. The police stand by their version of events.
The Sutton Coldfield MP and former banker said in a statement:
"On Wednesday night I attempted to leave Downing Street via the main gate, something I have been allowed to do many times before.
"I was told that I was not allowed to leave that way. While I do not accept that I used any of the words that have been reported, I accept I did not treat the police with the respect they deserve.
"I have seen the supervising sergeant and apologised, and will also apologise to the police officer involved."
Opposition politicians have said Mr Mitchell's denial means he was either accusing the officer of lying, or he himself must be dissembling and did indeed use foul language against the officer, potentially an arrestable offence.
Speaking to Channel 4 news on Friday evening, John Tully, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said Mr Mitchell was warned about his behaviour by officers at the time of the incident and was likely to have been arrested if he had continued. Mr Tully said:
"There is a written record of the incident in the officers' notebooks. I understand that following his tirade to the officers he was warned and he desisted. I think had he continued he would have been arrested."
He added:
"[Mr Mitchell] should resign. As a cabinet minister, it's unacceptable for someone of his standing to use such disrespectful and abusive language to a police constable, let alone anyone else. If the shoe was on the other foot and my officer had said those things he'd be out of a job now. It's double standards."
Paul McKeever, the chairman of the Police Federation, also called on Mr Mitchell to resign, saying it was "hard to fathom how someone who holds the police in such contempt could be allowed to hold a public office".
Mr McKeever added: "Mr Mitchell's half-hearted apology for the comments made whilst leaving Downing Street will do little to build bridges with the police, who feel they have once again been treated with a lack of respect and civility by members of this government.
Now the president of the Conservative's Coalition allies has added his voice to those demanding that Mr Mitchell resign.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat president, told the BBC in an interview:
"If he said what it is reported he said, it is absolutely appalling.
"All of us can have grouchy moments and say things we regret but it reveals, what he is reported to have said, something not terribly pleasant. It is David Cameron's job to discipline his minister in the same way that if it was the Liberal Democrat chief whip, who I am sure would never do a thing like this, it would be Nick Clegg's job.
"But certainly the comments reported are utterly, indeed beyond, unacceptable."
Conservative colleagues have also condemned Mr Mitchell's rant. Speaking on the BBC Newsnight programme, Tory MP Peter Bone said that Mr Mitchell's outburst gave credence to critics of the government who claim that the Conservatives are full of "arrogant posh boys".
However other Conservatives were less inclined to criticise their colleague. Last year London Mayor Boris Johnson stated that anyone who swore at a police officer who was carrying out his or her duty should be arrested. Asked if Mr Johnson stood by comments, the Mayor's official spokesman said: "Yes, he does."
However when asked if this meant that Mr Mitchell should resign, the spokesman said:
"That is not a matter for the Mayor, it is a matter for the Prime Minister and Mr Mitchell."
Conservative Minister and former Home Secretary Kenneth Clark defended Mr Mitchell, saying:
"I have known Andrew for a long time and he is a perfectly reasonable, courteous man with the same high regard for the police services as anyone else.
"He obviously had a flare of bad temper on this occasion and has rightly apologised. I do think this should be allowed to set the matter at rest."
Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned Mr Mitchell's behaviour as "wrong" and "inappropriate", but refused to answer questions about whether he planned to sack Mr Mitchell, who was appointed Chief Whip during Mr Cameron's government reshuffle earlier this month.
Comments
That comment says it all. One law for us and another for Dave's mates.
Thoroughly enjoyed myself and the sight of those folk and flags walking down the road will stay with me for a long time or at least until the next time!
Great speeches and really well organised.
More than pleased to see folk there even older than me!
Here is a story from that time, when he was suggesting that beating up an "off message" volunteer was a "reasonable" course of events and when he phoned up to rant at that volunteer's father
telegraph.co.uk/.../...
Other stories are out there. When Peter Mandelson joined Investment Bank Lazard, he was seen as a breath of fresh air compared to Mitchell.
What kind of set of circumstances make Mandellson the preferred choice?
I'm beginning to think the Conservative Party is some sort of creepy cult.
There's a wheen of queer folk inhabit Westminster.
I'm beginning to think the Conservative Party is some sort of creepy cult.
This particular Conservative is certainly a creepy cult.
Please excuse my typo.
The sensible route for Mr Mitchell would have been to exit the gate as instructed and later complained to someone at a higher level within the Met if he was so inclined. What he did was really stupid. Before this, with his work in the Overseas Development, he came over as being pretty reasonable, although it has been said that he is very right wing.
So to give away millions of pounds of our taxpayers money to nations, who, in the first place probably don,t need our cash, secondly, to countries ruled by despots who deposit the money in their own or families bank accounts is O.K? Judging by comments attributed to his neighbour,s, this individual is an arrogant, rude, person, who replies to their complaints on House of Commons paper, presumably to try to intimidate them. Another Tory millionaire, and pal of the Prime Minister, who doesn,t even have the guts to face the media this weekend, disappearing into the ether, where I for one, hope he stays.
You have to accept that richer countries should be motivated to help poorer ones, but in doing so, safeguards should be in place to avoid the money going to the wrong people.
Quote:
"So to give away millions of pounds of our taxpayers money to nations, who, in the first place probably don,t need our cash,..."
One of the Sundays (see link) is carrying an article about exactly this and there seems to be more to it than is apparent superficially. India for example are slated for not giving money to the deserving poor when they have nuclear weapons. Their probem is the threat from Pakistan which also has nuclear weapons and millions of poor people. The dilemma for them is, what would be the greater evil in that situation?
telegraph.co.uk/.../...
Note: some of the money is going to pay for a Turkish TV channel.
Anyhow, the UK doesn't do much better by its own population with the burden of a nuclear weapons programme, but can you imagine any UK (imperialist inclined) government accepting foreign aid from another country?
Most overseas aid goes with strings attached, the string usually being that they have to purchase goods from an approved, usually UK or political party supporting supplier.
In other words it's a tax payer subsidy to a business, rather than a foreign country
Just vote No in the referendum to get more dictat from on high and the continuity of rule by an exclusive elite for the exclusive elite.
The contrast between this man and our own Alex Salmond could not be greater. Today in Princes Street Gardens, some time after his inspiring speech, I noticed Alex quietly chatting amiably to several policemen on duty outside the bandstand. He also posed many times to be photographed by ordinary members of the public. How many public figures would have the humility to do that? Not many would be my guess.
Regards,
"From House to House, The Endless Adventures of Politics & Wine"
It's in the blood.
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