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Another arrogant MP.

(119 Posts)
Greatnan Fri 21-Sept-12 07:15:28

Andrew Mitchell, chief government whip, has had to apologise for losing his temper with a policeman who asked him to use the side gate at Downing Street to wheel out his bicycle. He is said to have called him a 'pleb'. If this is true (he has denied it) it shows how some of the cabinet regard the 'lower classes'.

Bags Wed 26-Sept-12 06:17:54

Not all plebs are idiots, or slobs, or thugs, but some MPs manage to be all three on occasion.

Rinky, how words are used matters. Mitchell was abominably RUDE.

RINKY Wed 26-Sept-12 00:20:37

Well..... We just use pleb as another word for idiot in our family, and while you can read a whole lot into that if you like, it doesn't actually mean a lot nowadays as far as I know and I would imagine most people who use it don't actually think about the historical context. It's just kinda rolls off the tongue easily!!

Four letter words to a copper is a public order offence. I know cos my dad watches a whole lot of Friday night brawl stuff on various cops and robbers programmes and I get drawn into them by him shouting " lock them all up" at the tv. They often get hauled to police stations for foul language.. falling down drunk..taking a swing at all and sundry..and peeing in the street! Now THEY really are plebs!

Daisyanswerdo Tue 25-Sept-12 23:48:10

He said he'd had an extremely frustrating day, or words to that effect, in his statement to the media yesterday. He added ' . . . but of course that's no excuse'. Why say it in the first place then?

Not so much posh or pompous, just idiotic, he seems to me.

Joan Tue 25-Sept-12 23:41:54

glitabo I love it!!

Yes, he is a monster that man - product of an elitist school of course, like most of that lot of arrogant pigs in parliament. Worst of all, they'll look after their own and ensure he gets away with it.

Oldgreymare Tue 25-Sept-12 23:24:46

Glitabo...publish!

Lilygran Tue 25-Sept-12 20:01:22

Sorry, I misheard the report. The original row must have been last week and he tried the same thing the following day.

Lilygran Tue 25-Sept-12 19:33:15

And he's tried the same thing again today. He obviously likes to be right.

JessM Tue 25-Sept-12 13:11:22

grin

Nanadogsbody Tue 25-Sept-12 13:07:43

smile

annodomini Tue 25-Sept-12 12:57:30

glitabo grin grin

glitabo Tue 25-Sept-12 12:34:25

Meanwhile, back at Thrasher Hall.
Nanny: Little Lord Betterthanme has been a naughty boy.
LLB: Yes Nanny
Nanny: Little Lord Betterthanme must be punished.
LLB: Yes please Nanny. Will you use the whip? Will you use the big whip?
Nanny: I shall use the Chief Whip.
LLB: Oh Nanny!

absentgrana Tue 25-Sept-12 11:48:08

Strictly speaking, as a member of the House of Commons Andrew Mitchell is a pleb. Perhaps someone should remind him.

Mamie Tue 25-Sept-12 11:32:19

I think some private schools may engender a feeling of superiority, but many / most people manage to shake it off when they get out into the real world. Sadly, some don't.

whitewave Tue 25-Sept-12 11:25:06

Ana no just chavs Although I am not sure of the difference.
I thought that plebian meant common man as apposed to uncommon I suppose, whatever that means.

Mamie Tue 25-Sept-12 11:21:48

I think the distinction would be with patrician rather than "posh". I would say that it is entirely about attitude, which may be fed by parenting, education, wealth or all three.

Ana Tue 25-Sept-12 11:20:00

D'you think the police (or at least the high-ranking ones) think of some members of the public as 'plebs'?

Greatnan Tue 25-Sept-12 11:19:18

If the present cabinet are natural born leaders, I'm a Dutchman! I don't regard anybody as my superior or inferior - I just judge people by the way they behave. I believe that many people who attend private schools do feel an innate sense of superiority but it is often entirely unjustified.

Lilygran Tue 25-Sept-12 11:17:44

JO4 the police note said it was a "public order offence". For the effing, I expect.

whitewave Tue 25-Sept-12 11:15:33

What distinguishes a pleb from a posh? Is it schooling, attitude or wealth, or maybe all three. What does it feel like to be a posh? Do you have this overwhelming sense of importance and superiority, with the expectation that all plebs are there to labour for your wealth/personal needs etc.
Do all plebs see poshes as superior and natural born leaders?

Oh dear what a lot of nonsense it all is.

JO4 Tue 25-Sept-12 10:37:19

In fact I would probably wear a uniform. On my bike.

JO4 Tue 25-Sept-12 10:36:48

If I was a Chief Whip I would definitely be pompous and self important.

JO4 Tue 25-Sept-12 10:33:45

No. It's unwarranted segregation. Posh-os separate from us plebs on bikes. hmm

glitabo Tue 25-Sept-12 10:31:47

I suggest that it is a safety issue for pedestrians and cyclists to use a separate gate from the cars.

annodomini Tue 25-Sept-12 10:29:52

I can't wait for this week's PMQs, though it's a pity that our press is so taken up with this affair that more important world news takes a back seat. Take today's Save the Children report on the effect on children of the conflict in Syria, for example.

Greatnan Tue 25-Sept-12 10:21:58

Could it be that every time the main gates are opened they present a security risk, or just that it takes more time than opening a single gate. I can't see what Mitchell had against using the side gate anyway.
It has been established that simply swearing at the police is not a crime, although there are various other offences about using threatening behaviour or causing a disorder.
I don't believe these highly trained policeman would have been aggressive towards him - he is just a pompous, self-important twerp. It would be good if some of the public who witnessed the altercation were to come forward with an unbiased account.