24 Sep 2012

Cabinet secretary rejects inquiry into Mitchell affair

The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, said tonight that he had rejected calls for a full inquiry into Andrew Mitchell’s confrontation with police outside Downing Street.

Sir Jeremy said he agreed with the prime minister that there would not be “any purpose” in such an investigation, after Mr Mitchell had made a full apology.

In a letter to the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, he said: “There clearly remains a genuine difference of view about what words were actually used. But Andrew Mitchell has acknowledged that his words and behaviour were inappropriate and he failed to show proper respect for the police.”

Earlier, in a statement to reporters as he arrived at work, Mr Mitchell again apologised for his outburst but again said: “I want to make it absolutely clear that I did not use the words that have been attributed to me.”

He said: “I have apologised to the police, I have apologised to the police officer involved on the gate and he’s accepted my apology and I hope very much that we can draw a line under it there,” he said.

Channel 4 News has learned that the Metropolitan police is investigating the leak of police statements in connection with the affair.

And more pressure has come from the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who insisted that Mr Mitchell must provide a full account of what happened after the Sun reported that police logbooks showed he called officers “plebs” and swore repeatedly.

“I don’t know what happened, I don’t think anybody knows precisely what happened and there are rival versions being circulated in the press.

“I think, therefore, it’s really important that Andrew Mitchell explains fully and in detail his version of events.”

Watch Channel 4 News’ reconstruction of #gategate