Andrew Mitchell faces cabinet pressure to quit in pleb row

The minister put forward France Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, as a possible replacement for Mr Mitchell in a clear sign that many of his senior colleagues now see his time in office as fast running out.

Another cabinet minister said: It is true that many of us cannot see any other solution than Andrew going and it would be better done sooner rather than later. The PM, however, appears to be digging his heels in.

A friend of Mr Mitchell, while acknowledging many senior colleagues opposed his carrying on as Chief Whip, said there were many more who had been extremely supportive.

Asked in an interview for this newspaper whether Mr Mitchell should stay on, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said: That must be an issue between him and the Prime Minister.

Whenever something like this happens, there is misconduct of this kind, it reflects on the organisation. But we have to draw a line under this. He has apologised. His apology has been accepted. We have to move on.

A Downing Street source said: The PMs view is that he has apologised and has been admonished publicly on several occasions. This is not a zero sum game just because somebody does something wrong it does not follow automatically that they should always lose their job.

With the Commons returning on Monday, the focus will be on Mr Mitchells role in enforcing party discipline including ordering MPs to turn out and vote in divisions.

One Tory backbencher said: Dont get me going [on Mr Mitchell] or I shall say something I regret.

After Friday nights meeting, the Police Federation said it would try to get a Metropolitan Police investigation into the affair. Ken Mackaill, chairman of the West Mercia Police Federation who was at the meeting with two colleagues, said the politician had no option but to resign after refusing to give details of exactly what he said in his tirade.

Mr Mitchells version of events as told by friends is that is that after asking officers to open the main gates to Downing Street for his bicycle, and being refused, he said: You guys are supposed to f------ help us. He adamantly denies using the words plebs or morons.

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Andrew Mitchell faces cabinet pressure to quit in pleb row