Lib Dem president condemns Mitchell comments

Police suggested the Tory enforcer was close to being arrested after allegedly shouting “learn your f****** place” when he was stopped from cycling out of Downing Street’s main gates.

Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron said the comments, as reported, if true, were “beyond unacceptable”.

“If he said what it is reported he said, it is absolutely appalling.

“All of us can have grouchy moments and say things we regret but it reveals, what he is reported to have said, something not terribly pleasant.

“Having said that, a lot of this stuff is still yet to be revealed. It is David Cameron’s job to discipline his minister in the same way that if it was the Liberal Democrat chief whip, who I am sure would never do a thing like this, it would be Nick Clegg’s job.

‘Beyond unacceptable’

“But certainly the comments reported are utterly, indeed beyond, unacceptable.”

Mr Mitchell, who was also a minister under John Major in the early 1990s, apologised in a statement.

The MP for Sutton Coldfield said: “On Wednesday night I attempted to leave Downing Street via the main gate, something I have been allowed to do many times before.

“I was told that I was not allowed to leave that way. While I do not accept that I used any of the words that have been reported, I accept I did not treat the police with the respect they deserve.

“I have seen the supervising sergeant and apologised, and will also apologise to the police officer involved.”

Mr Mitchell’s apology comes hot on the heels on Nick Clegg’s apology to voters on tuition fees, due to be shown as a party political broadcast on Monday.

Mr Clegg gave permission for the spoof apology created by satirical website www.thepoke.co.uk to be released as a single, Nick Clegg Says I’m Sorry (The Autotune Remix), which went on sale at iTunes tonight. All profits will be given to Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, of which his wife Miriam is a patron.

It currently sits at number 37 in the download charts.

Channel 4 News has commissioned the same people who made the spoof Clegg video to re-imagine the Andrew Mitchell police confrontation.

Watch and listen to the fruits of their labours below.