ANDREW Mitchell, the under-fire UK Government Chief Whip, has blamed the media for blowing his confrontation with Downing Street police officers out of all proportion and creating a "hideous caricature" of events as David Cameron admitted the controversial episode had damaged the Conservative-led Coalition.
A week after he hit the headlines, Mr Mitchell made clear he now wanted to draw a line under the affair and move on.
Labour, which has condemned Mr Mitchell's behaviour and accused the Coalition of a cover-up after unsuccessfully seeking a No 10 inquiry into the matter, will not, however, call for his resignation. Party sources made clear to The Herald that politically he is more useful being in government as a reminder of his misdeeds.
While the official police report claimed the Chief Whip repeatedly swore at officers, calling them "f****** plebs" when they refused to allow him to cycle through the main exit, Mr Mitchell again denied using these precise words.
As yet, however, he has failed to say what words he did use.
Mr Mitchell said: "Most people who know me know I would not use words like 'pleb' or 'moron'."
Prime Minister David Cameron, in an interview during his trade visit to Brazil, said: "Of course it's been damaging, that's why it is right that he apologised and apologised profusely."
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