Angry 'plebs' bite back at Conservatives in Corby by-election

Andrew Mitchell, The British Conservative Party Chief Whip speaks to the media, outside the Cabinet office in Whitehall, central London, England, 24 September 2012. Reports state that Andrew Mitchell has apologised for not showing a police officer enough respect after the officer stopped him cycling out of the main Downing Street gate and directing him to the smaller pedestrian gate, and allegations then were made that the Chief Whip swore at the officer. Andrew Mitchell maintains he did not use the words attributed to him. Pic EPA

EPA

Nicholas Cecil Deputy Political Editor

1 October 2012

The storm over Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell allegedly calling police “plebs” has hit the Tories’ campaign in the Corby by-election, it was claimed today.

Voters were said to be raising it “spontaneously” with Labour canvassers.

A senior Labour MP said: “It’s come at a bad time for them (the Conservatives)”.

Chief Whip Mr Mitchell denies calling police “f****** plebs” in a row with an officer who refused to open the main gates at Downing Street so he could leave on his bike.

But the dispute is unlikely to die down as the West Midlands police federation is set to highlight the issue at the Tories annual rally in Birmingham next week with officers wearing “PC pleb and proud” T-shirts.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne taunted the Conservatives today over the row and hit out at the Bullingdon Club at Oxford university whose members included David Cameron and George Osborne.

Unveiling a task force to tackle youth unemployment, he was set to say: “The young people we serve are good people.

“They don’t dress up in white tie and smash up restaurants

“And they don’t swear at policemen.”

Labour is expected to win the Corby by-election, which was triggered by the resignation in August of sitting Conservative MP Louise Mensch and is widely expected to take place on November 15.

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