A case of force majeure

Two wrongs aren’t supposed to make a right in British law. Even so, and as much as the unravelling of circumstances in the Andrew Mitchell affair may provoke few knowing smirks in custody suites across the land, the fact remains that the chief whip’s primary misconduct was that he chose to vent at police within 36 hours of the death of two serving officers in the line of duty.

That is behaviour unbecoming of a senior government figure. Mild censure and an apology would not be deemed sufficient by the courts if this kind of tirade was delivered by a less well-heeled individual to officers at 2am outside a kebab shop.

The Independent contends that an officer bearing false witness to attempt to force the dismissal of a government minister is nothing short of subversion of the state. The Police Federation on the other hand may see it differently.

From their perspective, and from that of a good many others struggling in public sector employment, if Mitchell was helped on his way to reduced circumstances by conscious action then he has simply gained first hand experience of what his government has already done to thousands of families.

Update: Cammers knew that evidence against Mitchell was dodgy says Independent.