Cameron accused of police rant ‘cover-up’

David Cameron has been accused of presiding over a “cover-up” regarding Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell’s clash with a Downing Street police officer.

After No 10 ruled out an official inquiry into the encounter, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the prime minister appeared determined to prevent the truth coming out.

Pressure on Mr Mitchell intensified after The Daily Telegraph published the full 442-word police log of the incident, which showed he called officers “plebs” and swore at them repeatedly.

While he has apologised for showing a lack of respect to the police, Mr Mitchell insisted he did not use the words attributed to him — prompting angry complaints from the Police Federation that he was effectively accusing the officers involved of lying.

The cabinet secretary, Jeremy Heywood, had attempted to draw a line under the matter, arguing there was no purpose in holding an inquiry as the police officer concerned had accepted Mr Mitchell’s apology and did not wish to pursue the matter.

However Ms Cooper said it was essential to establish who was telling the truth.

“It now looks like there is a cover-up going on and really I think both Andrew Mitchell and the prime minister need to tell us exactly what is happening,” she said.

“You read these reports and you have got a cabinet minister not just swearing at the police but also sneering at them, calling them plebs, saying they should know their place.

“I don’t think the prime minister can just dismiss this and try and sweep this under the carpet.”

Home office minister James Brokenshire insisted that it was possible that both Mr Mitchell and the police officer genuinely had different recollections of what happened.

“I have got no reason to doubt the recollections of either Andrew Mitchell or the police officer concerned,” he told Sky News.

According to the Telegraph, the police log describes Mr Mitchell speaking to a female officer on Wednesday evening and “demanding exit through the main vehicle gate into Whitehall”.

He was told that it was “policy” for cyclists to use the pedestrian gate.

“Mr Mitchell refused, stating he was the chief whip and he always used the main gates,” the report goes on.

“I explained to Mr Mitchell that the policy was to use the side pedestrian gates and that I was happy to open those for him, but that no officer present would be opening the main gates as this was the policy we were directed to follow.

“There were several members of public present as is the norm opposite the pedestrian gate and as we neared it, Mr Mitchell said: ‘Best you learn your fucking place... you don’t run this fucking Government... You’re fucking plebs.’

“The members of public looked visibly shocked and I was somewhat taken aback by the language used and the view expressed by a senior Government official.

“I cannot say if this statement was aimed at me individually, or the officers present or the police service as a whole.”