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| 'Plebgate': Mitchell 'lacks confidence' in Met chief | 'Plebgate': Mitchell 'lacks confidence' in Met chief |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tory MP Andrew Mitchell no longer has "confidence" in Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe, the BBC understands. | Tory MP Andrew Mitchell no longer has "confidence" in Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe, the BBC understands. |
| Sources close to Mr Mitchell said he had found an exchange of letters between the two "unsatisfactory". | Sources close to Mr Mitchell said he had found an exchange of letters between the two "unsatisfactory". |
| The Met is currently investigating events surrounding a row with police in Downing Street which saw Mr Mitchell resign as chief whip after he was accused of calling officers "plebs". | The Met is currently investigating events surrounding a row with police in Downing Street which saw Mr Mitchell resign as chief whip after he was accused of calling officers "plebs". |
| The MP met David Cameron on Monday. | The MP met David Cameron on Monday. |
| Mr Mitchell has admitted swearing at officers during the incident in September, but denies using the word "plebs" during angry exchanges at the gates to Downing Street. | Mr Mitchell has admitted swearing at officers during the incident in September, but denies using the word "plebs" during angry exchanges at the gates to Downing Street. |
| He resigned from the government in October, following several weeks of criticism in the media, with the affair being nicknamed "plebgate". | He resigned from the government in October, following several weeks of criticism in the media, with the affair being nicknamed "plebgate". |
| 'Sympathy' | 'Sympathy' |
| But CCTV footage has cast doubt on the original police accounts of the row and the Met has launched an investigation - Operation Alice - to look at events. | But CCTV footage has cast doubt on the original police accounts of the row and the Met has launched an investigation - Operation Alice - to look at events. |
| Friends of Mr Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, have suggested he should return to government. | |
| Mr Cameron, speaking on a trip to Afghanistan, praised the former chief whip's "calm and rational" response to the affair, adding that he had "a lot of sympathy" for his predicament. | Mr Cameron, speaking on a trip to Afghanistan, praised the former chief whip's "calm and rational" response to the affair, adding that he had "a lot of sympathy" for his predicament. |
| Two people have been arrested during Operation Alice - a policeman and a 23-year-old man not employed by the police. | Two people have been arrested during Operation Alice - a policeman and a 23-year-old man not employed by the police. |
| The BBC understands that Mr Mitchell has met Pat Gallan, a deputy assistant commissioner, who is in charge of the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards and is overseeing the investigation. | The BBC understands that Mr Mitchell has met Pat Gallan, a deputy assistant commissioner, who is in charge of the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards and is overseeing the investigation. |
| Political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said he had been told Mr Mitchell regarded Ms Gallon as "extremely good" though he no longer had "confidence" in the Met commissioner himself. | Political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said he had been told Mr Mitchell regarded Ms Gallon as "extremely good" though he no longer had "confidence" in the Met commissioner himself. |
| Earlier this week, Mr Hogan-Howe publicly backed the two original officers who were present during the altercation in Downing Street. | Earlier this week, Mr Hogan-Howe publicly backed the two original officers who were present during the altercation in Downing Street. |
| There has also been what is described as an "unsatisfactory" exchange of letters between Mr Mitchell and the commissioner, which has reportedly further eroded his confidence. | There has also been what is described as an "unsatisfactory" exchange of letters between Mr Mitchell and the commissioner, which has reportedly further eroded his confidence. |
| The Met said they had no comment to make at this stage. | The Met said they had no comment to make at this stage. |