Government Chief Whip ('Rt Hon' Andrew Mitchell) resigns.

[transportphoto]

Breaking News that Andrew Mitchell MP (Con), Government Chief Whip and MP for Sutton Coldfield constituency has resigned.

It is not clear if he has just resigned from his position as Chief Whip or from Parliament all together, as far as I can tell, just the former.

Andrew Mitchell has quit as government chief whip after criticism for making rude remarks to police officers at the gates of Downing Street.

Mr Mitchell apologised for his conduct but denied using the word "pleb" in exchanges last month.

Labour, the Police Federation and the Daily Telegraph were among those calling for the minister to go as pressure intensified on him.

There were angry clashes over Mr Mitchell in Parliament on Wednesday.

Mitchell asked to speak to Prime Minister David Cameron earlier on Friday at his country residence Chequers.

BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell wanted to speak to the PM in person so waited for him to return from Brussels, where he has been attending an EU summit.

The Prime Minister has accepted his resignation.

Source.
TP

 

[Eagle]

Breaking News that Andrew Mitchell MP (Con), Government Chief Whip and MP for Sutton Coldfield constituency has resigned.

Good timing, leave exactly when people are annoyed at another supposed pleb-hating Conservative politician.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Good. Glad he's gone. Should have done it ages ago.

 

[mumrar]

I feel in this instance the use of the words 'right' and 'honourable' are inaccurate and distasteful.

 

[wintonian]

I'm half expecting to see another government minister step down today now, this time over the First West Coast franchise.

 

[transportphoto]

I feel in this instance the use of the words 'right' and 'honourable' are inaccurate and distasteful.

Put the title in inverted commas, I'm not sure I agree with the title at the moment, however he still holds it AFAIAA.

I'm half expecting to see another government minister step down today now, this time over the First West Coast franchise.

Umm, so am I. Can't see it happening tonight though.

TP

 

[wintonian]

New Chief Whip is Sir George Young 6th Baronet of Formosa Place, MP for Hampshire North West.

An Elton toff and one time Transport Secretary under the gray Prim Minister - John Major.

 

[table38]

I'm glad Mitchell has gone, but I'm more concerned why the Police had to go crying to the press because a horrid man said something nasty.

Surely real front-line Police hear a lot worse than that on a normal Saturday night.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

"The gray Prim Minister"

Can we have a translation of this phrase, please...:roll:

I can see "Prim" being used in "prim and proper"...but "GRAY"..?

 

[SS4]

New Chief Whip is Sir George Young 6th Baronet of Formosa Place, MP for Hampshire North West.

An Elton toff and one time Transport Secretary under the gray Prim Minister - John Major.

Also what's an Elton toff

Hopefully the good folks of Sutton Coldfield will see sense and join much of the rest of Birmingham in voting against the Tories. If there's a by-election of course which I doubt.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Superlative timing I see.

Note that he's not apologising for anything, nor admitting he was wrong merely that bad press was to blame

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Also what's an Elton toff

There may have been some of them at one time at Elton Hall in Cambridgeshire, but there is definitely a district shortage of these at Ince & Elton station these days.....

With regard to the other matter, Charles GREY, 2nd Earl Grey, was Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834.

He is famous for giving his name to the beverage called Earl Grey Tea,

 

[balne-wonderer]

For calling a policeman a pleb? Surely the coppers that tasered the blind man are doing the same then? Oh no sorry, that wouldn't be fair would it....

 

[wintonian]

Can we have a translation of this phrase, please...:roll:

I can see "Prim" being used in "prim and proper"...but "GRAY"..?

For those not old enough to remember:

@ 01:06

[youtube]bVynpYqCyyQ?[/youtube]

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

For those not old enough to remember:

@ 01:06

[youtube]bVynpYqCyyQ?[/youtube]

The difference lies between "gray" (which your posting said)...and "grey" (which my later posting gave information on regarding the Prime Minster of that surname (1830-1834) who gave his name to Earl Grey Tea.

Have you come up with any answer yet to the query raised by SS4 in his posting.

 

[Oswyntail]

....Note that he's not apologising for anything, nor admitting he was wrong merely that bad press was to blame

Well a) there is still doubt over what was actually said b) he did apologise forlosing histemper c) the officer accepted the apology, and his superior officers accepted that was sufficient.
IMHO, the hyenas in opposition did stir the "story" and keep it going long after it became a non-issue. "Man loses temper and apologises" is hardly the stuff of Heroic Socialism. As for Miliband and his laughable attempt at being cool - "You're toast" - I am not sure that wasn't a threat of the kind MPs are meant to apologise to the house for.
Of course,anyone caught using the word "pleb" as if "plebs" was a plural fully deserves anything coming to him. Sadly, this would apparently encompass most of the opposition front bench, and the higher echelons of the Police Federation

 

[wintonian]

toff

noun /täf/ 
toffs, plural

1. derogatory. A rich or upper-class person
Google


gray

adjective /grā/ 
grayer, comparative; grayest, superlative; greyer, comparative; greyest, superlative

1. Of a color intermediate between black and white, as of ashes or an overcast sky
- gray flannel trousers

2. (of hair) Turning gray or white with age
- a gray beard

3. (of a person) Having gray hair
- a gray, fatherly gentleman

4. Relating to old people, esp. when seen as an oppressed group
- gray power

5. (of the weather) Cloudy and dull; without sun
- a cold, gray November day

6. (of a person's face) Pale, as through tiredness, age, or illness
- a few people, their faces gray and bitter

7. Dull and nondescript; without interest or character
- gray, faceless men
- the gray daily routine

8. (of financial or trading activity) Not accounted for in official statistics
- the gray economy

noun /grā/ 
grays, plural; greys, plural

1. Gray color or pigment
- dirty intermediate tones of gray

2. Gray clothes or material
- the gentleman in gray

3. Gray hair
- he sighed at the amount of gray at his temple

4. The Confederate army in the Civil War, or a member of that army

5. A gray thing or animal, in particular a gray or white horse

verb /grā/ 
grayed, past participle; grayed, past tense; graying, present participle; grays, 3rd person singular present; greyed, past participle; greyed, past tense; greying, present participle; greys, 3rd person singular present

1. (esp. of hair) Become gray with age
- he had put on weight and grayed somewhat
- a man of about fifty with graying hair

2. (of a person or group) Become older; age
- a graying workforce

noun 
grays, plural

1. The SI unit of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, corresponding to one joule per kilogram

Google

If you don't like the definitions then complain to Google.

 

[Ferret]

I'm glad Mitchell has gone, but I'm more concerned why the Police had to go crying to the press because a horrid man said something nasty.

Surely real front-line Police hear a lot worse than that on a normal Saturday night.

As much as Mitchell appears to be a numpty - I'd question the actions of the Police here. First - what was the big deal about letting him out of the gate. Second - if he did say what was reported, then he should've been lifted for Public Order. Third - why were the confidential details of a Police log leaked to the national press? Neither party comes out of this incident well.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

toff

noun /täf/ 
toffs, plural

1. derogatory. A rich or upper-class person
Google


SS4 was not questioning the expression "toff" that you used, but the phrase "Elton toff" that you used.....this seems somewhat different to the commonly used expression of "Eton toff". Perhaps you missed the point that he was making.

Do not suggest using Google as a definition of words in the English language, as we are in England which is still not the 51st state of America. In the list that you provided, the word "color" was cited as an example, which is not a correct spelling in England.

Have you have any experience of "spellcheckers" that have "American English" as their basis ?

 

[wintonian]

toff

noun /täf/ 
toffs, plural

1. derogatory. A rich or upper-class person
Google


SS4 was not questioning the expression "toff" that you used, but the phrase "Elton toff" that you used.....this seems somewhat different to the commonly used expression of "Eton toff". Perhaps you missed the point that he was making.

Well I do apologise for not increasing my screen resolution in order to spot typos without the need to find my glasses. :roll:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Good. Glad he's gone. Should have done it ages ago.

By staying put as long as he did has certainly reflected badly upon him and betrayed a lack of integrity, especially from someone in the party political role that he held.

 

[SS4]

I only meant it in jest :\. I apologise for my conduct but I definitely did not mention the word toff

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Nah, Mr Mitchell is a pleb

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Nah, Mr Mitchell is a pleb

He would definitely consider himself to be more of the "patrician" type...

 

[LE Greys]

By staying put as long as he did has certainly reflected badly upon him and betrayed a lack of integrity, especially from someone in the party political role that he held.

And showed David Cameron's bad judgement in not sacking him earlier and shooting Labour's fox (to use a 'toff' expression). I also reckon the 'plebs' slur (whether it was said or not) was hijacked by both Labour and the Police Federation as a way to get at the government that is both trying to reform them and putting out very damaging reports about the honsety of some serving officers. I don't know what to believe, but this row required a sacrifice (although 'innocent until proved guilty' has been conveniently forgotten).

 

[Oswyntail]

And showed David Cameron's bad judgement in not sacking him earlier and shooting Labour's fox (to use a 'toff' expression).

I am not sure about this - though I see that is the labour line now. Given that it is quite possible that Mitchell did not say anything too offensive, and he apologised, I would rather see a boss who stands by his "workforce" than one who sacks them simply because opponents say he should be sacked.

I also reckon the 'plebs' slur (whether it was said or not) was hijacked by both Labour and the Police Federation as a way to get at the government that is both trying to reform them and putting out very damaging reports about the honesty of some serving officers. I don't know what to believe, but this row required a sacrifice (although 'innocent until proved guilty' has been conveniently forgotten).

I think you have hit the nail on the head here. The Police Federation has a long history of fighting reform of any sort (much like the BMA) . And there are some pretty damning stories about senior serving police officers whom the Police Federation are trying to deflect criticism from. As a layman, it does seem that the Police service needs reform, and needs it badly.
And isn't it a sad indictment of current politics that anything requires a "sacrifice".:cry:

 

[kylemore]

For calling a policeman a pleb? Surely the coppers that tasered the blind man are doing the same then? Oh no sorry, that wouldn't be fair would it....

Exactly!

Mitchell's only mistake was blurting out what the rest of his colleagues think anyway!
Perhaps the conversation went like this;

Cameron: "Look Andy old bean we've got to kid on we 'respect' the Plods, they are after all all that stands between us and the scum...sorry voters that we 'manage' on behalf of the Banksters! Don't worry it'll all die down and you can come back...in the meantime here's a couple of do nothing Directorships which our grateful masters have told me to give to you."

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Mitchell's only mistake was blurting out what the rest of his colleagues think anyway! Perhaps the conversation went like this;

Cameron: "Look Andy old bean we've got to kid on we 'respect' the Plods, they are after all all that stands between us and the scum...sorry voters that we 'manage' on behalf of the Banksters! Don't worry it'll all die down and you can come back...in the meantime here's a couple of do nothing Directorships which our grateful masters have told me to give to you."

Are you a script-writer for "The thick of it"...?

 

[kylemore]

Are you a script-writer for "The thick of it"...?

No but I'm open to offers!

 

[Railsigns]

Do not suggest using Google as a definition of words in the English language, as we are in England which is still not the 51st state of America. In the list that you provided, the word "color" was cited as an example, which is not a correct spelling in England.

Have you have any experience of "spellcheckers" that have "American English" as their basis ?

He would definately consider himself to be more of the "patrician" type...

:roll: :roll:

 

[wintonian]

I only meant it in jest :\. I apologise for my conduct but I definitely did not mention the word toff

Cool,

I was rather knackered and irritable last night after doing a 10 mile hike in the pouring rain.