Gransnet forums

News & politics

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'.

nightowl Wed 26-Sept-12 11:27:36

'A man's manners are a mirror, in which he shows his portrait'. Goethe

I may be a pleb but Andrew Mitchell has shown himself to be no true gentleman, or in other words an a***hole

glitabo Wed 26-Sept-12 12:26:37

greatnan OK smile

Mamie Wed 26-Sept-12 14:33:13

Some quite interesting stories here...
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/shortcuts/2012/sep/25/andrew-mitchell-wasp-killer-thrasher

JO4 Wed 26-Sept-12 14:47:28

glitabo, yes. You are right. It is how he handled the situation, and I guess he didn't do too well. But then, we are all human.

Greatnan. Sigh. sad

soop Wed 26-Sept-12 15:34:03

nightowl grin...well said!

nightowl Wed 26-Sept-12 15:39:51

Thank you soop. Your photos are lovely by the way, what a lovely family you have!

soop Wed 26-Sept-12 16:03:45

nightowl Yes, the family is lovely. We were especially pleased that our adult grandchildren made the effort to travel some distance to see us. What's more, they enjoyed themselves. smile

borstalgran Thu 27-Sept-12 10:37:54

The point for me is that it shows a deep rooted class divide which is hard for those at the top to shake off. I find it hard to believe a policeman would have take the word 'pleb' from his everyday language store! It shows the Tories still see themselves as top dogs and the rest of us as inferior. That is a real problem as social division worsens through economic policy. It is part of a social system which sees inherited wealth and position as more important and self perpetuating. Don't forget there are 18 millionaires in the Tory government.

Of course Syria is important - the Middle East presents a real threat to world peace, but social cohesion is an issue here too.

absentgrana Thu 27-Sept-12 11:05:42

The indication of assumed social superiority wasn't simply the use of the word pleb, if it was used, but also a remark about "knowing your f*****g place".

absentgrana Thu 27-Sept-12 11:07:51

borstalgran Is that 18 millionaire Tories in the Government or 18 millionaires in the Coalition Government? (Nick Clegg is a millionaire but not a Tory.) I just wondered…

Bags Thu 27-Sept-12 11:15:25

Yes, that "know your place" attitude is a real giveaway. No-one except someone with a superiority complex talks like that nowadays.

JO4 Thu 27-Sept-12 12:31:07

On the Today programme this morning, Jack Straw said "cripes".

JO4 Thu 27-Sept-12 12:31:50

That was just bye the bye.

JO4 Thu 27-Sept-12 12:32:34

Whatever by/e the by/e means. confused

Ana Thu 27-Sept-12 12:37:13

Crikey! confused

JO4 Thu 27-Sept-12 12:39:36

He's very old school. A bit odd. But I like him. smile

He was talking about his depression.

Greatnan Thu 27-Sept-12 13:48:50

I used to like Jack Straw when he was a firebrand student, but he came out of the Hillsborough enquiry in 1997 badly , I think.

Nanado Wed 19-Dec-12 08:24:54

Interesting new developments.