Government chief whip Andrew Mitchell repeats he would not use ‘pleb’

Published on 29/09/2012 00:00

Government chief whip Andrew Mitchell has risked inflaming the bitter row over his altercation with Downing Street police by again insisting that he did not call them “plebs”.

In an interview with a newspaper in his constituency, Mr Mitchell said he wants to “draw a line” under a matter which was “blown out of all proportion” by the media.

“I think most people who know me know I would not use words like ‘pleb’ or ‘moron’ in describing anyone,” he said.

“I hope my constituents and friends in Sutton Coldfield will not recognise the hideous caricature that has been portrayed in some of the tabloid press.”