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Andrew Mitchell is owed apology over Plebgate row, says David Cameron Andrew Mitchell is owed apology over Plebgate row, says David Cameron
(35 minutes later)
The Conservative former chief whip Andrew Mitchell is owed an apology over the so-called Plebgate row, David Cameron has said. The Conservative former chief whip Andrew Mitchell is owed an apology over the Plebgate row, David Cameron has said.
He added that the conduct of three officers from the Police Federation was "not acceptable", remarks that put him at odds with three chief constables who have refused to take any disciplinary action against officers alleged to have misled the public over a meeting with Mitchell at the height of the Plebgate row.He added that the conduct of three officers from the Police Federation was "not acceptable", remarks that put him at odds with three chief constables who have refused to take any disciplinary action against officers alleged to have misled the public over a meeting with Mitchell at the height of the Plebgate row.
The three senior police officers have said they are happy to be cross-examined by the home affairs select committees next week.The three senior police officers have said they are happy to be cross-examined by the home affairs select committees next week.
The chief constables of West Mercia, West Midlands and Warwickshire concede the police officers may have acted wrongly, but say they did nothing to warrant disciplinary action.The chief constables of West Mercia, West Midlands and Warwickshire concede the police officers may have acted wrongly, but say they did nothing to warrant disciplinary action.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones should have faced misconduct hearings for lying about what Mitchell said in the meeting.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Inspector Ken MacKaill, Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton and Sergeant Chris Jones should have faced misconduct hearings for lying about what Mitchell said in the meeting.
Cameron spoke out at prime minister's questions on Wednesday after the issue was raised by the home affairs select committee chair, Keith Vaz.Cameron spoke out at prime minister's questions on Wednesday after the issue was raised by the home affairs select committee chair, Keith Vaz.
The prime minister backed the stance taken by the home secretary, Theresa May, who has insisted the police were "quite wrong" not to take disciplinary action.The prime minister backed the stance taken by the home secretary, Theresa May, who has insisted the police were "quite wrong" not to take disciplinary action.
Cameron said: "I agree 100% with what the home secretary said yesterday and I think we should be clear about what we are discussing here.Cameron said: "I agree 100% with what the home secretary said yesterday and I think we should be clear about what we are discussing here.
"The whole case about what happened outside 10 Downing Street, that's with the CPS and we have to leave that on one side until they make their decision."The whole case about what happened outside 10 Downing Street, that's with the CPS and we have to leave that on one side until they make their decision.
"What's being discussed here is the fact that … the former chief whip had a meeting with Police Federation officers in his committee where he gave a full account of what had happened, they left that meeting and claimed he had given them no account at all."What's being discussed here is the fact that … the former chief whip had a meeting with Police Federation officers in his committee where he gave a full account of what had happened, they left that meeting and claimed he had given them no account at all.
"Fortunately this meeting was recorded so he has been able to prove that what he said was true and what the police officers said was untrue.""Fortunately this meeting was recorded so he has been able to prove that what he said was true and what the police officers said was untrue."
Cameron added: "He is owed an apology. The conduct of these officers was not acceptable. These things should be properly investigated, as the home secretary has said."Cameron added: "He is owed an apology. The conduct of these officers was not acceptable. These things should be properly investigated, as the home secretary has said."
It was right for Vaz's committee to "discuss this with the chief constables concerned and try to get to the bottom of why better redress has not been given".It was right for Vaz's committee to "discuss this with the chief constables concerned and try to get to the bottom of why better redress has not been given".
Cameron is himself politically vulnerable on the issue since he did not support Mitchell right to the end when it was alleged that he had called police at the gates of Downing Street "plebs" in an altercation over whether he should let his bicycle through the main gates of Downing Street. Mitchell then resigned. Cameron is himself politically vulnerable on the issue since he did not support Mitchell right to the end when it was alleged that he had called police at the gates of Downing Street "plebs" in an altercation over whether they should let his bicycle through the main gates of Downing Street. Mitchell then resigned.
A separate investigation is continuing into whether the police were involved in a conspiracy to bring Mitchell down by leaking a false account of the altercation to a newspaper.A separate investigation is continuing into whether the police were involved in a conspiracy to bring Mitchell down by leaking a false account of the altercation to a newspaper.
Earlier in a speech on Wednesday, the policing minister Damian Green said the "corrupt behaviour" of a small minority of police officers could have a "corrosive effect on the reputation" of them all and undermined justice.Earlier in a speech on Wednesday, the policing minister Damian Green said the "corrupt behaviour" of a small minority of police officers could have a "corrosive effect on the reputation" of them all and undermined justice.
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I share the frustrations of the IPCC and indeed of Andrew Mitchell and his family and indeed [the Metropolitan police commissioner] Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe in wishing this thing were knocked on the head.The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I share the frustrations of the IPCC and indeed of Andrew Mitchell and his family and indeed [the Metropolitan police commissioner] Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe in wishing this thing were knocked on the head.
"It's got to be done, we need to get to the truth of what happened insofar as it could possibly be established for everybody's sake and it is extremely frustrating that it is taking so long. "It's got to be done. We need to get to the truth of what happened insofar as it could possibly be established for everybody's sake and it is extremely frustrating that it is taking so long.
"But the mills of justice grind slowly but they grind small. We will get the answer and that is the best we can do, but we have to follow the correct procedures.""But the mills of justice grind slowly but they grind small. We will get the answer and that is the best we can do, but we have to follow the correct procedures."
The former shadow minister for police reform and MP David Ruffley said he wanted to see a return to the cabinet for his friend Mitchell.The former shadow minister for police reform and MP David Ruffley said he wanted to see a return to the cabinet for his friend Mitchell.
He told BBC Breakfast: "There is a growing view in parliament, not just on the Conservative side, that a grave injustice has been done to Andrew Mitchell and justice demands he at least be reinstated and most of us think the prime minister agrees with that view and that justice will be done."He told BBC Breakfast: "There is a growing view in parliament, not just on the Conservative side, that a grave injustice has been done to Andrew Mitchell and justice demands he at least be reinstated and most of us think the prime minister agrees with that view and that justice will be done."
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the officers' behaviour had fallen below the standard expected, but their chief constables should be given the opportunity to explain their decision not to take further disciplinary action. Sir Hugh Orde, the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the officers' behaviour had fallen below the standard expected, but their chief constables should be given the opportunity to explain their decision not to take further disciplinary action.
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