It was supposed to have been largely wrapped up when
Andrew Mitchell resigned as government chief Whip but this week the ‘plebgate’
scandal has taken a new turn. A police officer has been arrested over allegations
that he submitted false evidence, the officer claimed that he was a member of
the public that was passing by the gate to Downing Street when he heard the row
between police and Mitchell. He claimed that he heard Mitchell use the word
pleb – an allegation that Mitchell has always denied. He claims that he was
with a group of tourists who were shocked at the way the chief whip spoke to
police. CCTV footage has now emerged that there was nobody near the gate at the
time of the incident, never mind a crowd.
This all was naturally welcomed by Mitchell and his
supporters who now see the tide of public opinion turning in Mitchell’s favour.
Mitchell and his allies are also furious at the Police Federation who in the
weeks following Mitchell’s confrontation appeared to use the plebgate scandal
as a way to get revenge on the government for police cuts and changes to their
pay and conditions.
Although we will never know for certain whether Mitchell
used the world pleb, two officers who were definitely present accuse him of
using that word whereas Mitchell denies it. This is still a very serious
allegation, the officer in question will almost certainly lose his job and
there may be others within the force who will have to leave.
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