Andrew Mitchell is an idiot who has done the Tories great harm, but the ... - Telegraph.co.uk (blog)

It's getting worse for Andrew Mitchell. He denies the language reported in the Sun, though not the tantrum. The police officer involved has let it be known that he stands by his version of events. Unless someone can produce an audio tape, it's one man's word against another's. That Mr Mitchell has apologised and offered himself to meet with the PC and say so in person has been overtaken by a dispute over his honesty. David Cameron's autumn relaunch has been derailed in a way that, as I argued earlier, revives all the worst stereotypes of nasty Tories that he has tried to eliminate. Can the Chief Whip survive in his job?

At this point we should acknowledge some truths about the actors in this story. I know from my occasional passages through those gates that the PCs on duty in Downing Street are as professional, courteous and good tempered as you might expect. We know that Mr Mitchell is an ambitious politician who divides opinion among his colleagues and has been known to fly off the handle in the past. Everyone is entitled to a bad day, which can be redeemed by the grace and honesty with which one makes amends, but Thrasher's reputation makes it difficult for him to claim the benefit of the doubt. The Sun broke a cracking story, yet it's fair to say is doing its best to cause Mr Cameron as many headaches as possible. The Police Federation is a trade union locked in a nasty battle with the Government that has insulted the Home Sceretary and attacked the Coalition over cuts and police reforms at every opportunity: it is not motivated solely by fellow feeling for its insulted member. Labour, only recently released from the grip of a man who regularly found himself accused of abusing secretaries, throwing phones and ignoring the outstretched hand of a police officer, sees an opportunity to defenestrate a senior Cameron ally and minister. Members of the Tory right – Lord Tebbit for example – have been critical of Mr Cameron and so should be listened to with a pinch of salt when they step forward to wring their hands about Mr Mitchell's failings. Tories who over the years have found reaons to despise Mr Mitchell are whispering all manner of black briefing against him. And Boris Johnson, who a while back suggested swearing at the police should be an arrestable offence, has let it be known that he is appalled, in a way that suggests that he too sees a chance to cause discomfort to his rival Dave.

I say all that  because when we consider this soap opera, and the drumbeat of calls for Mr Mitchell's head, we should realise that many of those taking part are motivated not by concern for the passing of good manners or the feelings of a single police officer, but because this is a golden opportunity to get at Mr Cameron.