Andrew Mitchell Resigns After 'Plebs' Row

Andrew Mitchell has resigned from his role as the Government's Chief Whip in the wake of claims he called police officers "plebs" in Downing Street.

He has been replaced by veteran MP Sir George Young.

Writing to the Prime Minister, Mr Mitchell said: "It is with enormous regret - not least because of the tremendous support and loyalty you have shown me during recent weeks - that I am writing to resign as your Chief Whip.

"Over the last two days it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we would wish. Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity.

"I have made clear to you - and I give you my categorical assurance again - that I did not, never have and never would call a police officer a "pleb" or a "moron" or used any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me."

He went on: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f****** help us'.  

"It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology."

Mr Mitchell had only been in the job for six weeks

In a letter to Mr Mitchell, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I understand why you have reached the conclusion you have, and why you have decided to resign from the Government.

"I regret that this has become necessary, and I am very grateful for all you have done, both in Government and in Opposition - as well as for the kind words in your letter."

Mr Cameron added: "As you have acknowledged, the incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it."

Paying tribute to his work, Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith tweeted: "Andrew Mitchell should be remembered as the best Development Secretary this country has had."

Michael Fabricant MP said online: "I spoke to Andrew yesterday about this and I was frank. This has been playing out like a long Greek tragedy and I hope that now he will take a break and rebuild his strength. He is a very able individual and I am sure he will return to public life in due course."

Labour's shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher MP said: "After weeks in complete denial, Andrew Mitchell has finally bowed to public pressure.

"What people will want to know is why, when the entire country could see that what Andrew Mitchell did was wrong, the Prime Minister totally failed to act.

The Prime Minister said he regrets the resignation had become necessary

"David Cameron is left looking profoundly weak and totally out of touch, doing everything he could to hold on to Andrew Mitchell only for his Chief Whip to bow to the inevitable given the understandable public anger.

"This Tory Government day by day show they think it's one rule for them, another for everyone else."

Sky's Political Editor Adam Boulton said: "I was expecting Andrew Mitchell to go last Friday when it was very clear from the Conservative Party conference the previous week there was very little support for him.

"Even those who sympathised with him for losing his temper felt that he was damaging the Government.

"This week the Prime Minister tried a final push to stand by him, but what I think has led to him making this decision to go to Chequers to speak to the Prime Minister on his return from Europe is the fact that he simply hasn't had the support from his own party and, crucially, from the fraternity of whips and ex-whips.

"There has been a lot of unrest from the present whips office about how they're going to maintain discipline with a Chief Whip who has damaged his own authority and reputation in this way."

The Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Paul McKeever, said: "It is not good to see anyone fall from public office but the decision by the Prime Minister to accept Andrew Mitchell's resignation seemed almost inevitable.

"Andrew Mitchell has apologised to our Metropolitan Police colleague and our colleague has accepted the apology. We hope this matter is now closed."

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