If he "swore in frustration"

[mudskipper]

Yep, pleb is not something the copper is likely to have made up. But I'm sure I can't be the only one who actually laughed out loud when I heard that it was what (allegedly) had been said.

Does sound like the copper has been a bit of a jobsworth too. The guy said sorry, so storm in a teacup IMO, but dunno why he'd dig himself in deeper by lying about it.

[shaunbhoy]

but dunno why he'd dig himself in deeper by lying about it.

That is always assuming he did lie about it.
In light of the recent revelations about widespread Police policy in the wake of Hillsborough, it is amazing that anyone is jumping to the conclusion that it is the Politician rather than the Plod that is lying here.
In all probability they both might be lying. In any case, WGAS?
Slow news day or what?

[vetran]

Yep, pleb is not something the copper is likely to have made up. But I'm sure I can't be the only one who actually laughed out loud when I heard that it was what (allegedly) had been said.

About the Programme - MPS Police Officer Graduate Entry Programme - Metropolitan Police Careers

Of course if you were a graduate and needed to serve your time in a reasonably safe place with regular hours which shift would you choose?

The ones you meet on the Saturday night pub ousting aren't the graduate ones on the cushy jobs.

It was the perfect choice of phrase, if he had said jumped up little jobsworth most people would have understood. But pleb is such a word it almost had to be chosen carefully.

[BrilloPad]

About time ministers knew what fookers the police are and the sort of bollox the mere mortals have to put up with.

Hopefully no10 will put ALL police on a "how to interact with joe public" course and using their wisdom.

Anyway, the police outside no10 are always miserable. I go past regularly and they always look like they have just had something shoved up their 4rse. The one outside Thatcher's house always smiles and chats - why can't downing street filth make an effort?

[d000hg]

One of them is lying. It is a pretty cunning lie (if it is the copper) to say that Mitchell used the word 'pleb', as it's not a common (no pun etc.) word nowadays but probably exactly the kind of word Mitchell used at school.

Hardly needs a good education to know the word 'pleb'. He could have simply watched Hell's Kitchen.

[vetran]

Hardly needs a good education to know the word 'pleb'. He could have simply watched Hell's Kitchen.

oh it was used on a recent reality program? There you go, its not like they have form for fitting people up.

[speling bee]

Hardly needs a good education to know the word 'pleb'. He could have simply watched Hell's Kitchen.

Many things are possible, but this is politics and different versions of events will fit into differnet 'narratives'. An the use of the word 'pleb' by Mitchell, ex Flashman's old school, nick named 'Thrasher' would be a very well placed invention by the copper if that is what happened.

Of course, if it is true and none of it matters, then there should be no problems with him saying that he called him a ******* pleb and then lied about it but it doesn't matter.

[NickFitz]

The Torygraph claim to have got hold of the police log of the incident. Assuming this is the real deal (and there's really no way the Torygraph would dare publish it unless they were absolutely certain it was) he was warned he would be arrested under the POA if he continued to swear, and that shut him up: In full: Police log detailing Andrew Mitchell's 'pleb' rant - Telegraph

[escapeUK]

The police officer should be sacked. Government should appoint its own personal security force answerable only to them.

[mudskipper]

That's disappointing. It would have been a lot more impressive if he'd just looked over his shoulder, given him the finger and said 'Pleb' as he cycled off. By preceding with expletives he's diluted it.

Fail 2/10/