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| Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row | Andrew Mitchell resigns over police comments row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Andrew Mitchell has quit as government chief whip after criticism for making rude remarks to police officers at the gates of Downing Street. | Andrew Mitchell has quit as government chief whip after criticism for making rude remarks to police officers at the gates of Downing Street. |
| Mr Mitchell apologised for his conduct but denied using the word "pleb" in exchanges last month. | Mr Mitchell apologised for his conduct but denied using the word "pleb" in exchanges last month. |
| Labour, the Police Federation and the Daily Telegraph were among those calling for the minister to go as pressure intensified on him. | Labour, the Police Federation and the Daily Telegraph were among those calling for the minister to go as pressure intensified on him. |
| There were angry clashes over Mr Mitchell in Parliament on Wednesday. | There were angry clashes over Mr Mitchell in Parliament on Wednesday. |
| Mitchell asked to speak to Prime Minister David Cameron earlier on Friday at his country residence Chequers. | Mitchell asked to speak to Prime Minister David Cameron earlier on Friday at his country residence Chequers. |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell wanted to speak to the PM in person so waited for him to return from Brussels, where he has been attending an EU summit. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell wanted to speak to the PM in person so waited for him to return from Brussels, where he has been attending an EU summit. |
| The prime minister has accepted his resignation. | |
| 'Serious setback' | |
| In his resignation letter, Mr Mitchell says "it has become clear to me that whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we both would wish. | |
| "Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity". | |
| He repeats his "categorical assurance" that he did not call police officers "plebs" - as alleged in the police report on the incident. | |
| But he adds: "The offending comment and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark 'I thought you guys were supposed to f***ing help us'. | |
| "It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology." | |
| Mr Mitchell's fate is believed to have been sealed on Wednesday, when deputy chief whip John Randall reportedly had to be talked out of quitting in protest at his determination to cling on, following a stormy prime minister's question time. | |
| In his letter of reply, Mr Cameron said he "understood" why Mr Mitchell was resigning, adding: "I regret this has become necessary." | |
| Nick Robinson said Mr Mitchell's decision to quit was a "serious setback" for David Cameron as he had held on to Mr Mitchell instead of sacking him straight after his angry clash with a policeman on the gates of Downing Street. | |
| Mr Mitchell will not be doing interviews but he told our correspondent he will seek to deliver a personal resignation statement in the Commons early next week. |