The papers are unanimous: Andrew Mitchell is a dead man walking, and like most pantomime ghouls he’s become a laughing stock. Fraser’s Telegraph column tells of MPs and cabinet colleagues ridiculing the chief whip. The joke deepens because Mitchell, perhaps due to his insistence that he did not use the word ‘pleb’, apparently does not recognise the gravity of those offences to which he has confessed. He is the still the merry cyclist, by all accounts.
As Fraser points out, the joke becomes more serious at this stage because it shrouds the Tories’ attempt to tackle inequality with welfare and education reform. In that sense, Mitchell is an impediment to David Cameron’s desire to ‘spread’ privilege and banish the popular charge that the Conservatives exist solely to protect entitlement. Therefore, it is little surprise to see the Telegraph joining the Sun in calling for Mitchell’s resignation, adding that he is a ‘walking, talking embodiment of everything with which David Cameron would least like his party to be associated.’
There are other forces arraigned against Mitchell. My old mucker Peter Hoskin has identified the Police Federation and majority public opinion in addition to the critics at Westminster. Peter does however note that David Cameron is thought to be minded to give Mitchell time to clear his name and rebuild his reputation (so, who knows, ‘Thrasher’ may end up as health secretary).
Still, the outlook is bleak for Mitchell despite the prime minister’s continued support. And his prospects may yet get worse if he is indeed banished to Rwanda, which would be quite a bump for a man whose ambitions are said to be lofty. Who might replace him in such an event? The expectation is that any vacancy would be filled by a Cameron loyalist. Francis Maude’s name keeps cropping up, although he’s allegedly happy co-ordinating civil service reform. Michael Fallon is very highly regarded by the leadership, but he is valuable to them minding Vince Cable at Business. Other names in the mix are Mark Harper and John Hayes.
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