'Plebgate' row: Timeline - BBC News BBC News Close share panel Image copyright Dispatches/Channel 4 News Image caption The affair concerns a 45-second encounter between Andrew Mitchell and police officers at the gates of Downing Street Allegations that Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell called some police officers plebs during a row in Downing Street cost him his government job. But the scandal has since embroiled the police in accusations that they have not been sufficiently robust in disciplining officers accused of trying to discredit the MP as part of a campaign to "toxify" his party. BBC News looks back at how the row unfolded. 19 September 2012 Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, then the government's chief whip, has a row with police officers who would not let him cycle through Downing Street's main gate. 20 September 2012 The story is revealed in the Sun newspaper, which reports that he swore at the officers and called them "plebs" who should learn their place. 21 September 2012 Mr Mitchell denies using the word "plebs" but apologises for being disrespectful.

24 September 2012 Mr Mitchell says he wants to "draw a line" under the incident, telling reporters: "I did not use the words that have been attributed to me." But speculation about the exact words he did use continues. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urges him to explain "fully and in detail his version of events". 25 September 2012 A police log of the incident, appearing to confirm previous reports and contradict Mr Mitchell's position, is leaked to the Daily Telegraph. 7 October 2012 Image copyright West Midlands Police Federation Image caption Police representatives associated the row with their campaign against cuts Mr Mitchell remains in his job, but members of the Police Federation wear "PC Pleb" T-shirts at demonstrations against police funding cuts at the Conservative Party conference. 12 October 2012 Three local representatives of the Police Federation meet Mr Mitchell at his Sutton Coldfield constituency office for 45 minutes, telling reporters afterwards that he had still not disclosed the precise words he used in the incident. They criticise him for implying that the Downing Street officers' accounts are not accurate. The chief whip has "no option but to resign", one representative concludes.

17 October 2012 Image caption In a Commons clash, David Cameron said Mr Mitchell should be able to carry on with his job David Cameron tells Parliament that what Mr Mitchell "did and said" was wrong, but since he had apologised and the officer involved had accepted his apology, he should be allowed to get on with his job. But opposition leader Ed Miliband says that, despite the apology, Mr Mitchell is "toast". 19 October 2012 Mr Mitchell resigns, claiming the "damaging publicity" means he can no longer do his job. In his resignation letter to the PM, he writes: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us.' "It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." 16 December 2012 A police constable with the diplomatic protection group is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and suspended from his duties in connection with accounts of the Downing Street incident.

18 December 2012 CCTV footage, broadcast on Channel 4 news, casts doubt on the police officers' version of events. The police log said Mr Mitchell's use of a number of expletives had left members of the public looking on "visibly shocked". But the footage suggests that no-one other than the officers involved were within earshot. Mr Mitchell says he has fallen victim to a "stitch-up". 19 December 2012 Scotland Yard says it is opening an investigation into claims that an officer gave false evidence. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe says: "The allegations in relation to this case are extremely serious. For the avoidance of doubt, I am determined there will be a ruthless search for the truth - no matter where the truth takes us." In the ensuing months, eight people are arrested and bailed under the investigation, codenamed Operation Alice, including five police officers. 7 March 2013 Mr Mitchell launches libel action against the Sun over its reporting of the "plebgate" incident. 19 September 2013 A year after the original incident, former home secretary Jack Straw criticises the "inordinate and unjustified" length of time the investigation has taken.

15 October 2013 Independent Police Complaints Commission deputy chair Deborah Glass says the IPCC disagrees with police chiefs' decision not to hold misconduct hearings on the three Federation officers involved in the October 2012 meeting with Mr Mitchell. Image caption Mr Mitchell has always denied calling the officers "plebs" The IPCC releases a transcript of the meeting - from a recording made by Mr Mitchell - which shows that, while he admitted swearing, Mr Mitchell denied using the word "pleb" or insulting the police. However, after the meeting the three officers said he had refused to elaborate on what had happened and should resign. Home Secretary Theresa May says it would be "quite wrong" to take no action against those officers. The chief constables of their forces say they will welcome the opportunity to appear before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to explain why no action was taken against them. 16 October 2013 David Cameron says Mr Mitchell is "owed an apology" by police over the row. It also emerges that an internal report which ultimately found no misconduct case to answer by the three officers who met Mr Mitchell at his constituency office had initially proposed disciplinary action.

21 October 2013 The three officers, Ken MacKaill, Stuart Hinton and Chris Jones, apologise for their "poor judgement" in talking to the media following their meeting with Mr Mitchell. They say they did not "plan or intend to mislead anyone about what occurred". But friends of Mr Mitchell tell the BBC the statement is "a regrettable non-apology". 23 October 2013 The three Federation officers insist to the Home Affairs Select Committee that they do not owe Mr Mitchell an apology. They say they stand by their "accurate" account of the meeting and Mr Jones says he is "not convinced we have done anything wrong". But the head of West Mercia Police tells the committee the handling of the affair was "clumsy" and the internal report and its recommendations should be independently reviewed. 27 October 2013 Sir Hugh Orde, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, says the conduct of the three officers fell "below that required" and they should apologise. 31 October 2013 Three civilians and five police officers on bail over the plebgate affair are re-bailed to a date in late November.

3 November 2013 The IPCC says it is conducting its own investigation into the conduct of the three Federation officers - Ken MacKaill, Stuart Hinton, and Chris Jones - saying there were "procedural irregularities" in the earlier internal police probe. It also emerges that the trio will be called back before the Home Affairs Select Committee. Its chairman, Labour's Keith Vaz, says MPs were "appalled" by the officers' original evidence and that if they did not "correct the record" they would be in contempt of Parliament. 6 November 2013 Stuart Hinton apologises to the the home affairs committee for an "inadvertent error" in his earlier evidence. He also says he regrets the "distress" felt by Mr Mitchell and his family during the whole saga. Chris Jones, also appearing before the committee, insists he did not mislead MPs over his disciplinary record. 26 November 2013 PC Keith Wallis is charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the incident in an email to his MP. But prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to show an officer in Downing Street lied in his account of what happened.

Separately, the Independent Police Complaints Commission says five members of the Metropolitan Police's Diplomatic Protection Group will face gross misconduct proceedings linked to the subsequent row, meaning they could lose their jobs. The BBC understands that the officer at the Downing Street gates on the night of the incident is not one of the five. 4 December 2013 PC Toby Rowland, the police officer who was on duty at Downing Street, says he is going to sue Mr Mitchell for libel over comments he made to the media following the incident. 16 December 2013 PC Keith Wallis appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of falsely claiming to have witnessed the incident. He did not enter a plea. 10 January 2014 PC Keith Wallis admits misconduct. 5 February 2014 Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe meets Mr Mitchell to apologise for PC Keith Wallis's role in the affair. 6 February 2014 PC Keith Wallis is sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Sweeney said Wallis had been guilty of "sustained, and in significant measure, devious misconduct which fell far below the standards expected of a police officer". 26 February 2014 PCs Keith Wallis and James Glanville are sacked for gross misconduct. The Met said Mr Glanville was dismissed for passing information about the incident to the Sun newspaper. 27 April 2014 Image copyright PA It emerges that PC Toby Rowland is seeking up to £200,000 in damages from Mr Mitchell for suggesting he was not telling the truth about the September 2012 altercation by the Downing Street gates. In documents submitted to the High Court, lawyers for PC Rowland justify the claim on the grounds that his reputation has been damaged by Mr Mitchell's remarks and he suffered "great distress, humiliation and upset". 30 April 2014 PC Gillian Weatherley is dismissed for gross misconduct by the Metropolitan Police over leaks to the press about the "plebgate" affair. 21 May 2014 PC Susan Johnson, a Metropolitan Police officer serving with the diplomatic protection group, is sacked for gross misconduct over the press leaks.

6 October 2014 A High Court ruling finds there was no proper final report prepared for the investigation into the three Police Federation officers who met Mr Mitchell. That probe was conducted by West Mercia Police but supervised by the IPCC. The High Court also quashed the IPCC's decision to investigate the case itself. An IPCC spokesman said it "welcomed" the ruling that the decisions of the three police forces had been "invalid" and said it would make a "fresh assessment" of the case. 3 November 2014 The IPCC again says it is to investigate three Police Federation officers over the "plebgate" affair, having re-assessed the case. 17 November 2014 The libel trial involving Mr Mitchell and former PC Toby Rowland gets under way in the High Court in London. Lawyers for Mr Mitchell tell the court that the police spun a "web of lies" that led to a "vitriolic" campaign against their client. 19 November 2014 Musician and aid campaigner Sir Bob Geldof is cited as a character witness for Mr Mitchell, a former international development secretary.

In a written statement submitted to the court, Sir Bob describes Mr Mitchell as a "good man" and "an advocate for the less fortunate", adding that he had never heard him "use the ridiculous and archaic expression 'pleb'". 20 November 2014 A former police officer who was on duty during the "plebgate" incident denies wishing to harm Mr Mitchell or the government. Gillian Weatherley, who was sacked over leaks of alleged details of the row, tells the court that text messages she sent suggesting she could "topple the Tory government" were meant to be sarcastic. 24 November 2014 A police officer who accompanied Mr Mitchell on two foreign trips says the former cabinet minister was "unpleasant until he got what he wanted". Insp Duncan Johnston, who travelled with the then international development secretary in 2011, tells the court Mr Mitchell would "erupt" but later be charming. Separately, two former Conservative whips state in written evidence that Mr Mitchell had been unable to recall the exact words he had used in the days and weeks after the event. 27 November 2014 Former government chief whip Andrew Mitchell loses his High Court libel action.

Mr Mitchell had sued News Group Newspapers over the story in the Sun in 2012 which claimed he called PC Toby Rowland a "pleb". Mr Mitchell acknowledged that he had used bad language but maintained he had not used that word. Delivering his ruling, Mr Justice Mitting said he was satisfied that the MP did say the word "pleb" Tory MP Andrew Mitchell to pay £80,000 damages to Plebgate officer | The Times Welcome to your preview of The Times Subscribe now Tory MP Andrew Mitchell to pay £80,000 damages to Plebgate officer Andrew Mitchell Sean O'Neill and Jenny Booth Last updated at 11:16AM, March 4 2015 Andrew Mitchell will pay £80,000 damages to the policeman he accused of lying about the Plebgate incident in Downing Street, the High Court heard today. The Conservative MP was sued by PC Toby Rowland after accusing the Diplomatic Protection Group officer of making up an account of the clash in which the former chief whip called police “f***ing plebs”. The scandal over the incident forced Mr Mitchell to resign from his government job.

He denied saying the words and claimed police had fabricated parts of the exchange. A major Scotland Yard investigation saw four officers dismissed for leaking to the Subscribe now UK’s “Plebgate” scandal: Police go unpunished for set-up of Conservative MP - World Socialist Web Site World Socialist Web Site Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) UK’s “Plebgate” scandal: Police go unpunished for set-up of Conservative MP By Julie Hyland 19 October 2013 The chief constables of West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands police are to appear before the UK parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee on October 23. The announcement came as further evidence emerged of police lies, false testimony and fabricated documents over what has been dubbed “Plebgate.” On September 19, 2012 Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative Party Chief Whip, was accused of getting into an altercation with police on duty in Downing Street, home to the official residences of the prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer. When he tried to exit the main gates with his bicycle, two police officers refused to open the gates, telling him he had to leave by the pedestrian side gate, which he did.

Both officers later wrote in their log books that Mitchell had told them, “Best you learn your f**king place … you don’t run this f**king government … You’re f**king plebs.” His last comment to them was reported as, “You haven’t heard the last of this.” The following day Conservative Deputy Chief Whip John Randall MP received an email from one of his constituents claiming to have witnessed the incident. His account, which said Mitchell’s conduct had shocked passers-by, supported the police logs. The following day, Rupert Murdoch’s Sun newspaper led with Mitchell’s supposed attack on the officers as “f**king plebs” and the log book was leaked to the Daily Telegraph. Mitchell protested the claims. He acknowledged that he had sworn under his breath—saying “I thought you lot were supposed to f**king help us”—but, while apologising profusely, he denied any of the abuse. Under advice from Tory Central Office, he refused to say the police were lying, carefully buttressing his protestations of innocence with the assertion that the officers involved must have misunderstood him.

Serving police officers wearing Sun -issued “PC Pleb” T-shirts staged an unprecedented demonstration outside Mitchell’s constituency office, where Police Federation representative Chris Jones stated that the row was proof of the Tories’ “elitist attitude” towards police. “By denying the police report he [Mitchell] is calling the integrity of those police officers into question, the public need to know the police and our official reports are something they can trust,” he said. While the media demanded Mitchell’s resignation, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband came forward as the champion of the police, while the Trades Union Congress demonstration held in October that year solidarised itself with the supposedly much-maligned force. On October 12, Mitchell met with three senior members of the Police Federation from the West Mercia, West Midlands and Warwickshire forces—Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Jones—to try and draw a line under the row. Immediately after the meeting MacKaill, chairman of the West Mercia Police Federation, told the assembled press that Mitchell had refused to elaborate on what had happened at the Downing Street gates and said the MP’s position was untenable. On October 19, Mitchell resigned.

None were more enthusiastic at the outbreak of this “anti-toff” populism than the pseudo-left, with the Socialist Workers Party presenting Mitchell’s resignation as a triumph. In fact, the entire affair was a set-up. Moreover, the exposure of this set-up has owed nothing to any official investigation, as the parliamentary parties fell over themselves to assuage the police. It was a Channel 4 Dispatches in December that showed that CCTV footage from Downing Street did not support the police version of events, and that the “eye-witness statement” turned out to be from a police officer from the same Metropolitan Police unit as the diplomatic protection squad, who was not even in London at the time. Only then, and with great reluctance, was it finally agreed that there should be a further investigation into the events. According to the Sunday Times, a whistle-blower from within the Metropolitan Police confirmed that a conspiracy was hatched among police officers to frame up Mitchell, which included fabricating evidence. At the time, the Police Federation was running a high-level public campaign insisting that government austerity must not be applied to the police, who should be ring-fenced from the cuts taking place elsewhere in the public sector.

The attack on Mitchell was intended as a demonstration to the government of police power and the political damage it could cause. One year on, evidence of a police conspiracy continues to go unpunished. A police-led investigation into the three officers involved in the October 12 meeting has decided no disciplinary measures will be taken. The inquiry by West Mercia police concluded that while the public statements made by the three officers after the meeting could be seen as “ambiguous or misleading”, they did not deliberately lie so there is no case to answer. This is despite Mitchell having made a secret tape of the discussions—the transcript of which is now available—that makes clear that they did lie about the content of the discussion. This transparent whitewash has occasioned a protest by the usually compliant Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The IPCC has covered over numerous instances of police abuse, including murder. As is usual, the IPCC had been content to allow the police force to investigate itself over the Mitchell affair, choosing only to “supervise” the West Mercia inquiry.

A statement by IPCC Deputy Chairwoman Deborah Glass challenged the police decision, stating that the meeting raised an “issue of honesty and integrity, not merely naive or poor professional judgment.” “In my view, the evidence is such that a panel should determine whether the three officers gave a false account of the meeting in a deliberate attempt to support their MPS colleague and discredit Mr Mitchell, in pursuit of a wider agenda”, she wrote. The response of Head of the Association of Chief Police Officers Hugh Orde was to demand the abolition of the IPCC. It has now been revealed by the IPCC that the conclusions of the West Mercia inquiry were watered down, reportedly after the intervention of senior police chiefs. In a letter, Glass stated that the first report submitted to the IPCC in July concluded “that there was a case to answer for misconduct, although their final report, submitted in August, did not.” Despite the furore, the only action that is being proposed is that the police representatives involved should apologise to Mitchell. As to the events of September 19, 2012, although eight people have so far been arrested, including five serving police officers, the Crown Prosecution Service has yet to decide on the central allegation of a conspiracy to depose Mitchell.

Nor are there any answers as to who leaked information to The Sun and the Daily Telegraph, or who organised “witnesses” to make lying accounts. “Plebgate” does more than prove that nothing has changed following the exposure of criminal activity—involving bribery and corruption—between police and the Murdoch press as was revealed in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. The scandal testifies to the enormous powers accrued by the police over the last decades. The assault on democratic rights under the guise of the “war on terror” and preserving “law and order” means the police are ever more nakedly a law unto themselves. Empowered to mete out punishment and abuse against workers and youth as a matter of routine, free from any accountability, they felt no compunction against the set-up of a serving MP. Many others lower down the social hierarchy suffer far worse fates than the career destruction—including being beaten and murdered—at the hands of this wholly corrupt and purposefully unaccountable mechanism of state repression.

Andrew Mitchell resigns – as it happened | Politics | The Guardian Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell resigns – as it happened Downing Street has announced that the chief whip, who had been accused of calling a police officer a 'pleb', has resigned Andrew Mitchell, the chief whip, has resigned. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Friday 19 October 2012 15.51 EDT First published on Friday 19 October 2012 15.51 EDT 8.46pm BST Summary Well that was a tour de force of the political cycle. In a brief hour or two we've gone from resignation, to the publication of the exchange of resignation letters and the announcement of a replacement. To recap: After being plagued by the scandal of 'plebgate' for four weeks, Andrew Mitchell, the government's chief whip, has resigned. In his letter of resignation Mitchell denied using the 'pleb' barb. A new replacement has been announced in the figure of Sir George Young - an old Etonian. 8.35pm BST I guess it is just that kind of day...

Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) Frantically meeting Mitchell deadline on St Pancras platform when charming Ed Miliband stops for chat. Said unless resigning, bit busy. Perhaps the new whip hasn't got a knack for PR... HeardinLondon (@HeardinLondon) Folk asking where I got that photo of Sir George Young, his children & Jimmy Savile? Erm, from his own website sirgeorgeyoung.org.uk/pages/biog3.htm 8.26pm BST More naysaying about the Young appointment but this time from the Tory MP Nadine Dorries who tweets: Nadine Dorries MP (@NadineDorriesMP) I love George Young, he is the nicest man but totally 100% loyal to Cameron and the Government a party first no matter what at all costs man 8.23pm BST Further reaction from our lobby correspondent , Patrick Wintour who writes: Andrew Percy, the Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole who called for Mitchell to stand down, said that the decision of Mitchell was the right one. "I represent a northern constituency and this played in to the untrue stereotypes of the Conservative Party.

“The biggest issue was the failure to say what was said that evening. The fact that the words were denied but no alternative given was an unsatisfactory explanation,” he said. 8.20pm BST That 'new chief whip with Jimmy Savile' advert in full: Alan Evans (@itsalanevans) 8.18pm BST Labour response This from Patrick Wintour who reports that Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister, Michael Dugher, said Mr Mitchell should have resigned earlier: After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure. What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Andrew Mitchell did was wrong, the Prime Minister totally failed to act," he said. David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Andrew Mitchell only for his Chief Whip to bow to the inevitable, given the understandable public anger. Updated So hesitations and worries over Young's appointment have already appeared. Tim Stanley (@timothy_stanley) David Cameron has replaced a minister accused of snobbery with ... an Etonian. And Cameron was in PR?! And then there's also this.... Er....

Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) Oops. According to Wiki, new Chief Whip and his children appeared in poster with Jimmy Savile ...to promote British Rail. Copy anyone? October 19, 2012 HeardinLondon (@HeardinLondon) The one in the middle is Tory Sir George Young, the new Chief Whip, with his children. twitpic.com/b5ley4 And just to top it off: JamesLyons (@MirrorJames) Sir George Young? A man dumped as Leader of the House just weeks ago? Extraordinary. And he rides a bike. PM's letter to Mitchell In his reply letter to Mitchell, the PM writes: Thank you for your letter. I was sorry to receive it but I understand why you have reacdhed the conclusion you have, and why you have decided to resign from the government. I regret that this has become necessary, and am very grateful for all you have done, both in the Government and in the Opposition- as well as for the kind words in your letter.

I am in no doubt that your work in the field of international development has made a rally important contribution – not only to the Conservative Party, but more importantly to Britain's standing in the world, and above all to the international efforts to tackle deep and sustained poverty. You brought real passion to the job in Opposition, which you turned into more than two years of very successful work in Government.... As we discussed in advance of the reshuffle, I wanted you to bring your organisational skill and energy to the important job of Chief Whip. It was clear to me that you had already made a strong start. As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it. You have much to be proud of from your service on the Frontbench both in Opposition and in Government, and in your continued service to your constituents in Sutton Coldfield. I hope that, in time, you will be able to make a further contribution to public life. Yours, David. 7.23pm BST Police Federation response to resignation The Police Federation who previously took up the complaint against Mitchell on behalf of their officer have given comment.

Speaking on Sky News, Simon Payne chairman of the Warwickshire Police Federation said: I think all we've ever wanted in the truth and all our members want is honesty and the truth. This story could have gone away four weeks ago. We all lose our temper from time to time but normally we apologise for it. But then we move on. And we'd wanted to move on for weeks.... This problem is not of our making. It is squarely at the governments' foot and it's ended with the right decision finally, which is the resignation of Andrew Mitchell. Updated The Telegraph's Benedict Brogan speaks here about the Tory deputy chief whip John Randall who, as political blogger Guido Fawkes first exposed , had threatened to resign if Andrew Mitchell did not "jump". Updated at 7.10pm BST 7.01pm BST For background, our chief political correspondent Nicholas Watt wrote a very interesting profile of Mitchell back in the heady days of September as plebgate has erupting. Here's an extract: Andrew Mitchell has the air of a character out of Tory central casting. With his clipped officer's accent and boyish looks, Mitchell would not look out of place next to Bertie Wooster in the Drones Club.

Unlike PG Wodehouse's bumbling character, the Conservative chief whip is no lightweight, intellectually or politically. He amassed a fortune working as a director at the investment bank Lazard before the last election and played a central role in helping to detoxify the Tory brand in five years as shadow international development secretary. Mitchell, 56, does, however, have two character flaws. These explain why he ran into difficulty at the Downing Street security gates last Wednesday evening and why he is taking time to remove the cloud above him. While Mitchell can be immensely charming, he has a short temper, as the armed police officers found out when they declined to open the security gates to allow him to leave on his bike. He can also fix opponents with a withering look and has been known to make the odd caustic remark. Mitchell's qualities – charm, brains and a mischievous sense of humour – have served him well in his 20 years in parliament. But his flaws, including an ability to make enemies, mean there is no shortage of Tory MPs lapping up every moment of his battle with the police.

Updated 6.57pm BST Mitchell's resignation letter to the PM Here's an excerpt from the letter and once again, Mitchell as per his previous comments denies the majority of his alleged comments made to the officer on that day. It is with enormous regret – not least because of the tremendous support and loyalty you have shown me during recent weeks – that I am writing to resign as your Chief Whip. Over the last two days it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfill my duties as we would both wish,. Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity. I have made clear to you – and I give you my categorical assurance again – that I did not, never have and never would call a police officer a “pleb” or a “moron” or used any of the other pejorative description attributed to me. The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark “I thought you guys were supposed to f***cking help us”. It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology.

Updated Mitchell resigns over ‘plebgate’ – Channel 4 News Politics , UK Mitchell resigns over ‘plebgate’ Government Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell submits to police pressure and resigns, after admitting he swore during a confrontation with police officers at Downing Street. Share on Twitter The resignation comes after a row involving Mr Mitchell swearing at police dragged on for weeks, with the beleagured MP failing to draw a line under the scandal that emerged after he allegedly swore at police. In his resignation letter Mr Mitchell again claimed he had not called a police officer a “pleb” or “moron” or “any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me”. He went on to admit it was wrong to use bad language to the police and thank the prime minister for the opportunities provided to him. Mr Mitchell claimed he said “I thought you guys were supposed to f****** help us”. Prime Minister Cameron wrote in a letter accepting the resignation “I understand why you have reached the conclusion you have.” “As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it.” Sir George Young will now take over as chief whip, Downing Street has confirmed.

The Police Federation and Labour were among those calling for the minister to go as pressure intensified on him. There were also heated clashes in parliament on Wednesday. Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever said: “It is not good to see anyone fall from public office but the decision by the prime minister to accept Andrew Mitchell’s resignation seemed almost inevitable. “Andrew Mitchell has apologised to our Metropolitan Police colleague and our colleague has accepted the apology. We hope this matter is now closed.” The incident in September allegedly saw Mr Mitchell swear at police officers stationed at Downing Street, after they stopped him leaving through the main entrance gate with his bicycle. Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said Mr Mitchell’s resignation “seemed almost inevitable”. Labour said Mr Mitchell should have gone earlier and questioned the Prime Minister’s judgment in allowing him to remain place. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Michael Dugher said: “What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Andrew Mitchell did was wrong, the Prime Minister totally failed to act.

“David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Andrew Mitchell only for his chief whip to bow to the inevitable, given the understandable public anger.” Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This is a sensible decision by Andrew Mitchell. It is very unfortunate that David Cameron allowed this to drag on so long rather than investigate and resolve it at the start. “Letting it carry on like this sent a very bad signal to the police and public servants across the country about the government’s attitude.” How Tories turned on Andrew Mitchell and forced him to quit - Telegraph Conservative How Tories turned on Andrew Mitchell and forced him to quit Andrew Mitchell was forced to resign as the Government’s chief whip when whole sections of the Conservative party turned on him because of the “damage” he was doing to the party’s standing with voters, The Sunday Telegraph has learned. Image 1 of 2 Cabinet Office minister and deputy chief whip resign from government | Politics | The Guardian Cabinet Office minister and deputy chief whip resign from government Downing Street announces departure of Chloe Smith and John Randall ahead of expected reshuffle Chloe Smith and John Randall have both resigned from the government.

Photograph: Composite Sunday 6 October 2013 18.07 EDT First published on Sunday 6 October 2013 18.07 EDT Close This article is 3 years old David Cameron's long-serving deputy whip, John Randall, and his youngest minister, Chloe Smith , have resigned ahead of a reshuffle in which the prime minister is expected to promote a number of women. Downing Street's surprise announcements sparked speculation that Cameron will shake up junior roles within his team as early as Monday. They follow the resignation of transport minister Simon Burns, who wants to stand as deputy Commons speaker, with rising stars such as Sajid Javid, Esther McVey and Nicky Morgan tipped for bigger jobs. Randall, who has served in the Tory whips' office for 13 years, said he informed the prime minister last year that he wanted to return to the backbenches. He is best known for his role in the resignation of his boss, Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip, over the "plebgate" scandal just over a year ago.

Randall passed on information about Mitchell's alleged behaviour after one of his constituents claimed to have witnessed the former minister swearing at police officers and calling them "plebs". Mitchell always strongly denied the accusations and the constituent turned out to be a serving officer, who was later arrested as part of a wider investigation into an alleged conspiracy. In his resignation letter, Randall assured the prime minister that he would continue to do "whatever I can for you personally as well as for the party, the government and of course the country". "I know that it is customary to write at these times that it has been a great privilege and honour to serve as a member of the government, but it really has been that and a lot more," he wrote. "I have served 13 years in the whips' office both in opposition and more recently in government and I have served under and with some fantastic colleagues, notably Patrick [McLoughlin] and Sir George [Young], who have made the job extremely worthwhile and even fun." Cameron's reply to Randall was glowing, describing him as a "rock" for the whips' office and the parliamentary party. "It sounds dramatic, but I had rather hoped this day would never come," Cameron wrote.

"I could not have wished for a more loyal, discreet, patient, trustworthy and committed colleague over the last eight years since I became leader of the party, but you have been all these and much more." Smith, a Cabinet Office minister, is stepping down to concentrate on her constituency work and engaging young people in politics. The 31-year-old MP, who has previously served as a whip and a Treasury minister, has recently been overseeing the controversial lobbying bill, which has been criticised by charities and campaign groups as posing a potential threat to freedom of speech. She was moved from the Treasury in the last reshuffle shortly after a difficult interview on BBC Newsnight about the chancellor's deferral of fuel duty. Smith, the MP for Norwich North, told the Guardian that her choice to step down was "to do with priorities and what's most important". "Essentially, it's entirely my own decision and something I see as very positive," she said. "Anyone who has known me and my work has known that my constituency comes first. It's the case that I've spent three of my four years in parliament serving as a minister. I'm very proud of that and achieving various things, like helping to save £10bn pounds of Whitehall waste.

But for now I want to focus on the things that really matter to me." In her resignation letter to Cameron, she said: "As you know, I was only 27 when I was lucky enough to be elected as an MP, and of my four years in parliament so far, I have spent three as a minister. I would welcome the opportunity to develop other ways of giving public service, both inside and outside parliament, while continuing to work hard for my constituents." The prime minister's reply said Smith has served "ably" and made a "positive impact". "I know this will not have been an easy decision for you to make, and one you will have given a huge amount of thought to," he said. "After serving the government so ably for over three years, you will certainly be missed, but I completely understand and respect your decision." The Tory reshuffle could happen at the same time as Ed Miliband shakes up the Labour frontbench. He is thought to be considering moving the shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, and the shadow work and pensions secretary, Liam Byrne, with shadow Treasury minister Rachel Reeves tipped for promotion.

Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row - BBC News BBC News Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row 20 October 2012 From the section UK Politics comments Close share panel Image caption Mr Mitchell has been under pressure over the remarks for weeks Andrew Mitchell has quit as government chief whip after weeks of pressure over an argument with police officers in Downing Street. The Tory MP has admitted swearing at officers in the incident but again denied calling police "plebs". He told David Cameron - who has stood by him - that "damaging publicity" meant he could no longer do his job. Former Commons leader Sir George Young will be the new chief whip, Downing Street said. Mr Mitchell's resignation is a victory for the Police Federation and Labour who have led calls for him to go. But it spells the end of a 25-year political career for the Sutton Coldfield MP, who was promoted from international development secretary to chief whip in September's cabinet reshuffle. BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell told the prime minister about his decision in person, at Mr Cameron's country residence Chequers. The prime minister has accepted his resignation.

'Learn your place' In his resignation letter, Mr Mitchell says "it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we both would wish. This is a serious setback for David Cameron as he held onto Mr Mitchell instead of sacking him straight after his angry clash By Nick RobinsonPolitical editor "Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity". He repeats his "categorical assurance" that he did not call police officers "plebs" - as alleged in the police report on the incident. But he adds: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us'. "It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." Mr Mitchell - whose job was to maintain discipline on the Conservative benches - was thrust into the spotlight when The Sun accused him in a front page story of calling police "plebs". His outburst came after armed police stopped him from cycling through the main Downing Street gate, instead directing him to the smaller pedestrian gate.

He is reported to have used foul language and told the officer at the gates to "learn your place" and "you don't run this government". 'Complete denial' The officer concerned reported the incident to his superiors and the official police log, which appeared to contradict Mr Mitchell's story, was later leaked to the media. David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch Michael Dugher, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mr Mitchell came under intense pressure from the Police Federation - which represents rank-and-file officers - and which refused to accept his version of events. The MP stayed away from the Conservative Party conference in an attempt to defuse the row, but despite the support of backbench Tory MPs it became clear when Parliament returned from recess on Monday that it was not going to go away. Mr Mitchell's fate is believed to have been sealed on Wednesday, when deputy chief whip John Randall reportedly had to be talked out of quitting in protest at his determination to cling on, following a stormy prime minister's question time.

In his letter of reply to Mr Mitchell, Mr Cameron said he "understood" why Mr Mitchell was resigning, adding: "I regret this has become necessary." Shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher, for Labour, said: "After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure. "What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Mr Mitchell did was wrong, the prime minister totally failed to act. "David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Mr Mitchell only for his chief whip to bow to the inevitable given the understandable public anger." 'Honesty and integrity' Nick Robinson said the fight had gone out of Mr Mitchell, who was considered to be a fighter and a former soldier who loved political scrapping. Our correspondent said he had fallen victim to the persistence of the Labour Party - "who portrayed him as all that was worst about the government, symbolising one rule for those at the top and one for everyone else" - and the Police Federation who were fighting the government over cuts and reform. Somebody lost his temper. Frankly, big deal.

All sorts of people lose their temper in their daily lives, it's part of human nature Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative MP "In the end he fell victim to his past behaviour, with too few people prepared to defend him, the tough guy paid for just being too tough", he added. Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said: "It is not good to see anyone fall from public office but the decision by the prime minister to accept Andrew Mitchell's resignation seemed almost inevitable. "Andrew Mitchell has apologised to our Metropolitan Police colleague and our colleague has accepted the apology. We hope this matter is now closed." Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said the incident had been "hugely exaggerated". "Somebody lost his temper. Frankly, big deal. All sorts of people lose their temper in their daily lives, it's part of human nature. To blow this up into a resignation issue has been rather unfortunate and actually trivialises politics when there are many important things going on," he told BBC's Newsnight. Mr Mitchell told our correspondent he will seek to deliver a personal resignation statement in the Commons early next week.

The new chief whip, Sir George Young, was thought to have retired to the backbenches after giving up his position as leader of the House of Commons in September's reshuffle. The Tory grandee, who went to Eton and became an MP in 1974, had held the post since 2010, but was replaced by former health secretary, Andrew Lansley. Sir George has some experience of the government whips office, serving there in 1990 and also acting as an opposition whip under Margaret Thatcher before she became prime minister in 1979. During the 1980s and 1990s, he held a range of ministerial positions, including transport secretary in 1995. Plebgate: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe must resign - Telegraph Politics Plebgate: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe must resign The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has made a series of foolish mistakes that undermine British justice and democracy, says Jacob Rees-Mogg. Andrew Mitchell was forced to resign as the Government Chief Whip Photo: Yui Mok/PA By Jacob Rees-Mogg Comments It is extraordinary that the Andrew Mitchell affair has not been brought to a close.

The facts around it became clear following Channel 4’s Dispatches programme in December. The CCTV for Downing Street showed that there were no passers-by to be offended – and that the incident did not last long enough for the alleged words to have been spoken. Indeed, it turned out that the email that purported to come from a member of the public was sent by a policeman’s nephew, and that the police log was bogus. Yet the police investigation has come to no conclusion and Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, is embroiled in a press briefing scandal. That a conspiracy by serving police officers brought down a senior minister ought to be of grave concern. It is an attack on the democratic control of the country. Ministerial office is in the gift of the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who holds his post by virtue of his ability to command a majority in Parliament. The police, who need to be both powerful and trusted, cannot be allowed to choose ministers – and that a cabal of them did effectively do so, with the aggressive support of some members of the Police Federation, upsets the constitutional balance.

It ought to have worried senior police officers more than anyone else, because of its ability to change the fundamental relationship between them and the politicians. Unfortunately, the behaviour of the country’s most senior policeman, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, seems to lack energy and may have breached his own guidelines. His first mistake was to announce, before detailed inquiries had been completed, that officers “had accurately reported what happened”. This turned out to be wrong, while leaving the unfortunate impression that the hierarchy of the Metropolitan Police was unwilling to question the truthfulness of damaging accusations made by its own junior officers. The danger of this approach is that it gives credence to the view that there is a "canteen culture" in the police which encourages them to cover up problems. If it can happen to a senior minister there is the further worry that less powerful individuals could easily be ensnared by false allegations. The second mistake, once a new inquiry had been entrusted to the Metropolitan Police, was not to realise the need for openness and pedantic correctness. It had to be an investigation free from spin and in the highest traditions of British policing.

After the Dispatches programme, the Commissioner needed to make it clear that he would not tolerate any failing and certainly not leaks which ought never to be the usual business of the police. Unfortunately, this was not the approach and led directly to the third and most damaging error. Questions have been raised as to whether the leaks may have come from the Commissioner himself. He confesses to meeting journalists before stories appeared in the newspapers, saying that there was insufficient evidence to proceed. No notes were taken of a meeting he held with journalists. This is a breach of Sir Bernard’s own guidelines which he issued to his force in May 2012. It is also a contravention of the guidelines recommended to the Metropolitan Police following Elizabeth Filkin’s report on "the ethical issues arising from the relationship between police and media". Related Articles Plebgate - ITV News Plebgate Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell Credit: Dan Kitwood/PA Archive Two senior police officers are set to face misconduct hearings over the "plebgate" affair involving former chief whip Andrew Mitchell. Insp Ken Mackail and DS Stuart Hinton at the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Credit: PA Inspector Ken Mackaill for West Mercia Police and Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton from Warwickshire Police, have been accused of gross misconduct. Both forces said that there was a "case to answer". The development comes after a meeting with Mr Mitchell in October 2012 at his constituency office in Sutton Coldfield. Last November, Andrew Mitchell strongly denied using the word "pleb" and lost a high-profile action against News Group Newspapers, publishers of the Sun. The police officer at the centre of the so-called "Plebgate" incident has accepted £80,000 damages in settlement of his libel action against former Government chief whip Andrew Mitchell. Former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell MP (left) and Pc Toby Rowland who has accepted £80,000 damages Credit: PA Wire Pc Toby Rowland was awarded the sum at the conclusion of his defamtion case against the Conservative MP at the High Court in London today. Last November, Mr Mitchell, who strongly denied using the word "pleb", lost a high-profile action against News Group Newspapers, publishers of the Sun.

A judge had declared that he was "satisfied" Mitchell had used the "politically-toxic" word in September 2012 when he was not allowed to cycle through the main Downing Street vehicle gates. Plebgate officer keeps job after disciplinary hearing A police officer who faced investigation over the Plebgate row has kept his job after a disciplinary hearing cleared him of any wrongdoing. James Addison, 37, was accused of making a false statement denying he had been in contact with Pc Keith Wallis, who was later jailed and sacked for pretending to have witnessed the confrontation. However, Addison faces a second disciplinary hearing next month after admitting sending porn to colleagues via Whatsapp while on duty at Downing Street. He has already been fined £6,000 over sharing the "disgusting and offensive" images that included bizarre sex acts. Met Police officer Susan Johnson sacked over Plebgate Pc Susan Johnson been sacked from the Metropolitan Police after a gross misconduct case against her was found to be proven following the investigation into the "plebgate" row on Downing Street between officers and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell, the force said. Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell has demanded the Metropolitan Police release full transcripts of the hearings investigating officers over the Plebgate scandal.

Andrew Mitchell, pictured in 2011, arrives at Number 10 to attend a Cabinet meeting Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire/Press Association Images Writing to police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Conservative MP said that "confidence in the police has been badly damaged by the many revelations that have emerged", and that "only a completely open and transparent account of what happened will remedy the damage done." The Metropolitan Police today confirmed they had received the letter, and were seeking legal advice as to what information could be published. A policewoman involved in the Plebgate row on Downing Street between officers and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell boasted to a friend that she could bring down the Government, the Conservative MP has said. Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell lost his job over the Plebgate row. Credit: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire Mitchell made the claim after Scotland Yard denied his requests to release information heard in gross misconduct hearings relating to the scandal. Mitchell said full disclosure of Metropolitan Police gross misconduct hearings will show the woman texted a friend two days after the altercation saying: "I can topple the Tory Government". Pc Gillian Weatherley has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police without notice after she was found guilty of gross misconduct.

Andrew Mitchell arriving for a Cabinet meeting at No 10 Downing Street. Credit: Press Association She was on duty in Downing Street on the day of the confrontation between then-chief whip Andrew Mitchell and fellow constable Toby Rowland in September 2012. The next day, Weatherley sent a photograph of an email that Rowland had sent to his bosses about the row to another officer, James Glanville. He was later sacked for leaking the information to the Sun newspaper. The force said she had given "inaccurate and misleading" statements to officers investigating the aftermath of the row, and had been suspended from duty since her arrest in February last year. Prosecutors have already decided not to press charges. Andrew Mitchell attended Pcs' misconduct hearings In a statement, the Metropolitan Police revealed that Andrew Mitchell attended both misconduct hearings for former Pcs Keith Wallis and James Glanville, as an "interested party". The Met spokesperson said: "Misconduct hearings are considered a privateprocess. As such, we treat theinformation raised within them as confidential. Andrew Mitchell. Credit: Press Association. "This is set out in the statutory regulations governing police misconduct proceedings.

However, given the public interest in this investigation the MPS, will publicise the outcomes of the hearings." Andrew Mitchell, then chief whip, was involved in a heated confrontation with another police officer, Toby Rowland, after he was refused permission to cycle through the main gate of Downing Street on September 19, 2012. Mr Mitchell, who was accused of calling the officer a ''pleb'', was forced to resign his post following a month of intense media interest in the story.

Question: Which Conservative MP resigned as Government Chief Whip after the 'Plebgate' scandal ?
Answer: ANDREW MITCHELL