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Michael Gove on Andrew Mitchell.

Education Secretary Michael Gove. Photograph: Getty Images.
Education Secretary Michael Gove speaks at last month's Conservative conference in Birmingham. Photograph: Getty Images.

There's a Japanese film, I think it's called Rashomon, in which different participants who see the same event all have different recollections of it. I wasn't there. I trust Andrew, and I'm always inclined to give him the benefit of any doubt.

The cinematically-minded Michael Gove sides with Andrew Mitchell over plebgate.

3 comments

Terry Chillean (miner)'s picture

Its a sad day...alas one that tories fail to understand.

jankaas's picture

and since i know my place i would always take the word of a Politician over that of a mere policeman who is just a pleb like wot i is.

Barrie J's picture

If I asked a politician (whether of the Left, Right, local or national) a question, I would first ask myself is it in this person's interest to lie to me?
In the case of all those included above, they would either lie to me or use semantics to avoid obviously telling an untruth that might later return to embarrass them.
I have examples of this behaviour at Parish, District, and parliamentary levels.
The evidence of Orgreave, Hillsborough, Jean Charles de Menezes etc., etc., also suggests to me that I should no more accept the evidence of a policeman than a politician.
Which leaves democracy in the UK in a sorry state.

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