To NOT want a public enquiry into the minister 'pleb' calling incident?

[Liketochat1]

Is it just me who doesn't want tax payer's money spent on an investigation into this incident? As far as I can understand two men got into an unpleasant exchange and the Tory minister was very rude. He has now apologized and this has been accepted.
I think David Cameron is right not to press for a public enquiry or a sacking. Why is this still front page news?

[GirlWithALlamaTattoo]

I'm with you. Man who'd had a bad day at work was rude to annoying jobsworth and subsequently apologised. How is this multiple days' worth of news?

[Nosleeptillgodknowswhen]

Public enquiry no - complete waste of money.

Sacking yes - can't believe you can still be in post having shown such utter contempt for the people you are supposed to represent.

[KeithLeMonde]

This Government have enormously upset rank and file police officers, along with other public sector workers, by cutting at their working conditions and pensions. Many in the public sector feel under attack and that the Government have little respect for their professions.

The Government are seen as elitist and out of touch with the majority of hard working people in the country who are struggling to pay the bills. They mainly consist of white men who have been educated at the main public schools. Many of them are lucky to have private fortunes to shield them from the cuts that are affecting so many people on low incomes.

Then on the day when the Prime Minister is visiting a force where two young officers have been murdered while doing their job, one of his ministers allegedly says "Best you learn your -- place, you're ----- plebs".

That's more than just being rude to a single officer. In context, that's two fingers up at the police, and two fingers up at anyone else who's a "pleb" i.e. one of the common people.

It would be nice not to waste money on an enquiry - he should resign IMHO.

[LonelyCloud]

Public enquiry sounds like complete overkill.

But some sort of disciplinary action wouldn't be unreasonable, even if the minister has now apologised.

[Tuttutitlookslikerain]

I agree with you.

I can't remember being this much fuss when John Prescott threw a punch! I know that wasn't at a policeman, but I still think it was worse!

[Sparrows12]

He should be asked for his resignation. Simple and inexpensive.

I love the way he is holding out - not denying that he said the stuff complained of - just in case someone used their mobile phone to record him and is sitting on the evidence waiting for him to incriminate himself a la mitt Romney. Ha ha.

[TheGoldenKnid]

You know, I've just thought about this. The whole lot of them should resign. I will become a benign dictator instead. I would do a brilliant job.

[bulletwithbutterflywings]

I agree with you. Don't really see why he should resign either.

[thebeesnees79]

Ah the two jabs Prescott incident lol!!
I seriously think this is so over the top, do we honestly need to waste more public money (that we don't have!!!) just on something so stupid.
yanbu at all!!

[chandellina]

I think he's a bloody hero. He was directed to go out a different gate with his bike when he was already going through a gate. I'm annoyed too by silly rules enforced by people trying to feel important.

[maybenow]

i know, i wish they would drop it - newsflash, politician behaved likes a bit of an entitled prick! what a shock!

[OneHandFlapping]

Storm in a tea cup. Why should he resign? I'm sure the police have been called worse than plebs by a great many people, and it's disingenuous of them to be acting all hurt over a very mild insult on this occasion.

Plus Alistair Campbell called a great many people a great many worse things in his time, and I don't recall all the champagne socialists calling for him to resign!

[TidyGOLDDancer]

He should resign, but there's no need for a public enquiry.

[CasperGutman]

It's not a silly rule - the gates were put there in response to a terrorist threat (originally the IRA in the 80s, but now other terrorist groups too), to improve security by preventing vehicular access to Downing Street. The police have instructions to direct people who can do so to use the small side gate to avoid opening the large gates unnecessarily.

Rules like that have to be followed, otherwise what's the point?

[franticallyjugglinglife]

I agree he should be asked to resign. No question. A public enquiry or a parliamentary one is passing the buck IMO - as well as being a waste of our money.

Anything else is tolerance of some pretty obscene views and indicative of how our government views those they represent. And i speak as someone who generally leans to the right rather than left! What an odious man. Ugh.

[Mayisout]

Well if oiks in the street can be arrested for foul mouthed comments to police why T F should an MP get off?

[IvorHughJanus]

Do you vote for dictators actually? Not sure that you do.

I think he's come accross like a rude, arrogant wanker. Which he probably is. But that's hardly shock news.

[TheGoldenKnid]

I think technically I don't need any votes as dictator, but I appreciate it anyway. :) I'll bear it in mind when it comes to granting dictatorial favours.

[ToothbrushThief]

What Keith said. The fact it was on the same day that PM is visiting a force where two officers were murdered doing their job.... that arse of an MP feels hard done by for having to go through a side gate?

I'd like him sacked.

[BurlingtonBertieFromBow]

An enquiry is for when no one's sure what happened. It is pretty obvious what happened here.

I think he should be fired. It is really not hard to not swear at strangers. I have never told a stranger to fuck off even after a really bad day, and I am no saint. If an ordinary person swore at a ticket inspector on a train they could be prosecuted and rightly so. It is very telling that he said 'plebs' and not 'twats' or 'wankers' - he clearly thinks he's superior.

[OneHandFlapping]

"Plebs" is not swearing. ASFAIK, he's not been accused of swearing at them, just of swearing. I expect he said "Oh fucking hell!" or some such. I've said it myself on many occasion when I'm annoyed at life.

And it's totally irrelevant to this case that two police officers were recently and tragically murdered.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

What Keith said.

The more idiotic statements that are made the more it becomes apparent that this Government are completely on a different planet.

No public enquiry, theres much more worthwile things to spend money on right now. But I thought politicians were employed to be advocates for the people of this country.

If he sees anyone as a pleb he shouldnt be in that role. It is us plebs who pay his wages afterall.

[BurlingtonBertieFromBow]

Yes but general swearing at/in the presence of a stranger AND calling them a pleb - really?? Who DOES that? And especially when you're an MP - it shows an amazing lack of foresight. I'm not sure how bright he can be if he does that - another reason why I would rather he wasn't partly in charge of running the country.

I swear a lot, but I wouldn't swear in front of e.g. a shop assistant or a waitress