Plebs 1 Toffs 0

[An_Inspector_Calls]

does it really matter any more

I think it does. We object when the church or army interfere in the governance of the UK. I see the actions of the police in the Mitchell affair as a direct attempt by them to interfere with the government of the UK, motivated by their annoyance over pay and pensions.

[french frank]

I see the actions of the police in the Mitchell affair as a direct attempt by them to interfere with the government of the UK, motivated by their annoyance over pay and pensions.

I wouldn't speculate on their motivation, but given that Operation Elveden has arrested a number of Sun journalists and at least one police officer (was he the only one they were alleged to have bribed?), it's strange that this hasn't already been seized on - perhaps it has?

Mitchell and the government probably want the affair forgotten as soon as possible: they may think it would be seen as passing the buck to have the police investigated for revealing Mitchell's 'misdemeanour'.

[amateur51]

I think it does. We object when the church or army interfere in the governance of the UK. I see the actions of the police in the Mitchell affair as a direct attempt by them to interfere with the government of the UK, motivated by their annoyance over pay and pensions.

Oh come now, he's only the Chief Whip, in charge of party discipline not High Panjandrum in charge of Railway Tickets.

Mitchell should have done the sensible thing two weeks ago, written a letter of regret to Dave expressing his sorrow that this matter appears to be lingering on, distracting from the important matter of running the country, reducing the deficit etc, and so he's standing down at this time as a matter if deep personal regret etc. Possibly he even might throw in a para in support of the work of our marvellous police force. Matter over.

Hubris and an attachment to the key to the executive washroom have distorted his perspective, silly man

[MrGongGong]

We object when the church or army interfere in the governance of the UK.

But it's OK for old Charlie


(not intended as a narcotics reference )

[ahinton]

I think it does. We object when the church or army interfere in the governance of the UK. I see the actions of the police in the Mitchell affair as a direct attempt by them to interfere with the government of the UK, motivated by their annoyance over pay and pensions.

I take your point about instances of attempted interference in the nation's governance by the Church or armed forces (although, of those, only the latter is an arm of government paid for by the taxpayer), but I find it hard to follow you into your assumption of a reasonable comparison between such instances and how you see the actions of the police in the Mitchell matter, if only because the police have other ways to register its discontent over its pay and pension arrangements and that an attempt on their part (if any) to seize upon the Mitchell débâcle merely as an excuse to ram this home would all too transparently reveal itself as what it is and be generally regarded as so pathetic and out-of-context an attempt at the expression of chagrin that it would be more likely to undermine the police's cause than support it.

[An_Inspector_Calls]

ahinton
No, I think the actions of the police here have quite obviously undermined the government, and I believe that's been quite deliberate.

And MrGongGong, thanks for reminding me about Charlie - he should keep his nose out as well.

[MrGongGong]

And MrGongGong, thanks for reminding me about Charlie - he should keep his nose out as well.

a rather unfortunate choice of words methinks ?

[ahinton]

ahinton
No, I think the actions of the police here have quite obviously undermined the government, and I believe that's been quite deliberate.

Whilst I am not here to defend the police, I note that you provide nothing resembling evidence for your viewpoint here and, in any case, I would have thought that the government has done so effective a job of undermining itself in its persistent mishandling of the Mitchell affair as to have required no assistance from anyone else, let alone the police!

[An_Inspector_Calls]

Didn't you read any newspapers over the weekend?

[An_Inspector_Calls]

a rather unfortunate choice of words methinks ?

Anything for a quick snort.

[teamsaint]

You would have thought the "Law and order " party could have dealt effectively with a few grouchy PC's.

Maybe some lessons will be learned inside Downing St about the way our police act, and are used.
Or perhaps not.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I see the actions of the police in the Mitchell affair as a direct attempt by them to interfere with the government of the UK, motivated by their annoyance over pay and pensions.

Or it could just be that the government doesn't tell the truth about the pension funds and refuses to present evidence to back up their assertions. For example, the Teachers' Pension Scheme is estimated to be 45 billion pounds in surplus, but the government tells a different story.

[ahinton]

Or it could just be that the government doesn't tell the truth about the pension funds and refuses to present evidence to back up their assertions. For example, the Teachers' Pension Scheme is estimated to be 45 billion pounds in surplus, but the government tells a different story.

Indeed; time was when the phrase "lies, damned lies and statistics" had some currency but it's surely long since been replaced by "lies, damned lies and pensions" - not that this fact impacts one jot on the subject at hand, mind.

Why there's been such a hoo-ha about the now ex-Chief Whip and what he may or may not have uttered one one particular occasion or admitted subsequently to having uttered continues to escape me, when it is surely known that he didn't shout "pleb" at all but "Clegg" and he had the grave misfortune to be misheard and then misreported...

[An_Inspector_Calls]

Or it could just be that the government doesn't tell the truth about the pension funds and refuses to present evidence to back up their assertions. For example, the Teachers' Pension Scheme is estimated to be 45 billion pounds in surplus, but the government tells a different story.

I'm not sure what the teacher's pension scheme surplus has to do with the price of tea, but I note the 'estimated' in your claim and would point out that when my private pension scheme is audited every year they're able to state a value accurate to within 1 %.

[teamsaint]

I'm not sure what the teacher's pension scheme surplus has to do with the price of tea, but I note the 'estimated' in your claim and would point out that when my private pension scheme is audited every year they're able to state a value accurate to within 1 %.

Read carefully...the government REFUSE to publish the audited figures, but tell us that pensions need to be reduced...but without providing the evidence.
That is the point. They are dishonest. Like the police sometimes are.
Not difficult to understand.