Mitchell police row rumbles on

Sep 25 2012

Senior coalition figures have again tried to draw a line under Andrew Mitchell's row with Downing Street police despite fresh revelations about the spat.

The official police log of the altercation records the Chief Whip describing officers as "plebs" and repeatedly swearing.

Mr Mitchell has said his loss of temper came at the end of a "long and extremely frustrating day" but it was reported that his schedule had included a lunch at an upmarket Westminster curry house.

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton, Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander sought to offer support to his Cabinet colleague but acknowledged that the language used was "wrong and inappropriate".

He said: "Andrew Mitchell has apologised for what he did. It was clearly totally wrong for anyone to go around swearing at police officers but certainly for Cabinet ministers. He has apologised for that, I gather he has apologised directly to the police. I think we should draw a line under the matter now."

A 442-word account of the incident, published for the first time by the Daily Telegraph, records Mr Mitchell repeatedly refusing to comply with police requests and then swearing at officers. The embattled Chief Whip has apologised for not treating the police with respect but denies using the words he is reported as saying.

The Sun newspaper claims he spent part of that day enjoying lunch at the Cinnamon Club. Ex-government adviser George McGregor told The Sun he was dining at the restaurant at the time near Mr Mitchell, and said: "He didn't seem to be having a long and frustrating day to me."

The police log describes Mr Mitchell speaking to a female officer and "demanding exit through the main vehicle gate into Whitehall". He was told that it was "policy" for cyclists to use the pedestrian gate. "Mr Mitchell refused, stating he was the Chief Whip and he always used the main gates," the report goes on.

"Mr Mitchell refused. Repeatedly reiterating he was the Chief Whip... After several refusals Mr Mitchell got off his bike and walked to the pedestrian gate with me after I again offered to open that for him. There were several members of public present as is the norm opposite the pedestrian gate and as we neared it, Mr Mitchell said: 'Best you learn your f****** place... you don't run this f****** Government... You're ******* plebs.'

"The members of public looked visibly shocked and I was somewhat taken aback by the language used and the view expressed by a senior Government official. I cannot say if this statement was aimed at me individually, or the officers present or the police service as a whole." The log states that the officer warned Mr Mitchell that he could be arrested for swearing.