Another arrogant MP.

The reporting of this incident doesn't set it in context. These are specialist security officers who are highly trained to remain calm to deal with all eventualities, and they are used to self-important people from all walks of life. Their daily briefings will encompass any recent security issues, so MPs can't just assume the status quo every time they visit Downing Street. This twit complaining he had a difficult day won't wash with the police after the week they've had, but I bet they stayed calmer than him!

Should have been no longer not loner

Interestingly, there is a programme on SKY called The British . It reminds us that Britain as it is today did not just evolve into this democracy but is the result of centuries of bitter conflict and civil war. Perhaps our leaders (and I use that term very loosely) should stop being so complacent. Civil war and unrest is not the prerogative of the Middle East.

I think I have been spending too much time reminiscing about my student days and I am getting quite Bolshie.

Obviously bags my brain is not capable of discerning what is important and what is not.

nanadog,

I am sure that what he actually said was "Please open the gate for me" and when the policeman refused he replied "Oh bother what an incovenience" Which of course will lead for the need to apologise

They said on 'Today ' that the term 'pleb' is in general use at Rugby for people who are 'not like us'. His school nickname is said to be 'Thrasher'. No, it isn't very important compared to what's happening elsewhere in the world but what we learn about is filtered through what the media think will attract the most attention. That's worrying.

Sorry, JessM. That's where I saw the bit about the nickname, then!

I would say that "pleb" was used like that at my public school, too. Happily I grew up and learned to know better!

Read a couple of articles about him in the Sunday Times, he sounds appalling and arrogant and does nothing to dispel the public's perception of the Tories being a party of lofty smacked arsed faced toffs. Once again David Cameron has displayed awful judgement, he should have sacked him, an apology because his behaviour is making bad headlines means nothing. There are too many people who have reported their experiences of his high handed behaviour which suggests he believes he is a superior being who can talk anyway he likes to people he perceives to be his inferiors, it's unacceptable. These attitudes do his party much damage.

Not only do his attitudes damage his party, more importantly they damage the morale of the whole population. As a woman I have spent years being put down by men who believed they are superior just because they are men.
I am not wandering off thread, I am considering how men behave when they are in danger of losing power. The situation is the same. These men, usually, white, heterosexual(?), public school educated men have ruled the roost for centuries. They survive by putting down their inferiors. They may pay lip service to change but when put under pressure they revert to type. For the morale of the country it would be remiss to let this go.

I do not understand why this man hasn't been removed by Cameron.
There was more than one police officer on the gate, who presumably heard what he said, and they will have made reports in writing.

Mitchell has implied they have told lies but has no witness to corroborate his story.
If someone took a shot at him he would expect those officers to lay down their lives to defend him!

Number 10 has said that David Cameron is standing by Andrew Mitchell and, naturally, accepts his word. That's probably the kiss of death. Number 10 has made no comment about the police account of the encounter.

The Tory party still regards itself as the natural party of government and a large number of current Tory MPs talk as if they had won the election.

Yawn... sticks and stones... whatever happened to that?

This would be quite a different story if the offender had been young and black...or white

feetlebaum

Sticks and stones may break my bones but calling never hurt me.
That is so untrue. I can't be bothered to elaborate, it should be obvious.

I can remember a lot of complaints about the arrogance and rudeness about members of other parties. Andrew Mitchell, like a lot of people who are successful in life is a bully. Gordon Brown was clearly another such.

Bullies like Mitchell and Brown do not necessarily target one individual for a campaign of bullying but they want and intend to have their own way at all times and their main way of doing this is by shouting and swearing so that people back off and give way rather than face all the aggro. At various times I encountered these people at work. Many of them were very charming, if your aims and theirs co-incided but even then had that air of hidden menace that suggested that you wouldnt want to cross them.

Apparently the police constable in question was female - good for her standing up to a bully

Well that is not surprising, I expect that Andrew Mitchell would take badly to being told what to do by a woman. Does he know that women have the vote now?

Glitabo

Not a female and only one police officer involved, according to 10 o'clock news. Funny how misinformation spreads.

We used the word pleb at our secondary modern school. Us lot wot didn't have posh parents were proud to be plebs. And didn't I hear Vince Cable at the Conference stand up and announce he's a pleb?

It's all right to say it about yourself - not so good to use it as a derogatory term to those you deem to be beneath you!