Could have been worse - his legal team did it on a no win no fee basis!! That will be an interesting agenda point at the next partners meeting.

as the saying goes "You can always get out by paying" - Mitchell needs to pay up and retire from public life.

The Tories need less arrogant toffs not more odious individuals like this a true waste of a skin.

Don't forget that Cameron selected him personally to hold one of the highest positions in the cabinet, that of Chief Whip, and its not as if he didn't already know the nature of the bloke, he wasn't just a run of the mill MP.

Mitchell painted himself into a corner right from the off by denying that he used the word "pleb" which they all recognised from the start would be far worse than f-ing at a police officer, a bizarre situation that tells you everything you need to know about the almost unique British class system and how an innocuous word can define an attitude.

Once denied he could only have hoped that it would all go back in its box and if he'd just f-ed at a police officer it may have, but the stigma of Camerons cabinet of posh boys was just too good to have a pop at, he could still have apologised and said that he couldn't recall saying the pleb word several weeks later but by taking his stance then suing to "clear his name" was always going to be the only way out especially when Cameron "accepted his resignation" (or booted him into the long grass so as not to be tainted any longer).

There is only one question remaining now - is the cctv that covers the gates of Downing Street really so poor in quality that they have no other recordings other than those in the public domain?

Not exactly, they were working for nothing win or lose.

As I stated previously following the CPS report the Right Honourable Gentleman's story was not consistent. His version of events changed as opposed to PC Rowland who maintained his story throughout. It should be noted here that the issue in the high court did not involve the idiot jailed copper or the federation officers who royally gilded the Lilly.
PC Rowland made his notes at the scene immediately after the incident and that should have been the end of the matter. The Right Honourable gentleman should simply have apologised, explained it was the heat of the moment following a bad day. We all have them after all.
What has happened in the high court though has exposed him for the arrogant little man that he appears to be.
It's been a sorry tale from the off. It's cost several people their careers inc the Right Honourable gentleman and for what? A moment of utter petulance by a man who believes he is superior to those from a less privileged background. Karma can work in mysterious ways.

Mitchell has now agreed to pay the officer £80,000 in damages. Add all the costs, and that's one expensive apology.

Cameron is keeping well away from this after having backed his chief whip before and after the event, he should only be thankful that there is no effective opposition to point this out in The House and question once again his choice of those who surround him.

If only the police officers had done what they should have done, opened the gate and let him cycle through as always, no big deal and no security risk (when compared to letting cars through far less a risk in fact).
So if they had done their job like they were supposed to (instead of being F@@king plebs) none of this would have happened.
It's like this on the roads all the time, one rule for one lot and a different rule for others when they feel like applying them and if they can be bothered to even know the law.

Without wishing to argue, your point sounds a bit like girls wearing short skirts deserve to be raped, or security guards carrying cash deserve to be robbed. Mr Mitchell has been exposed as a fibber, snob and all round rotter. He'll probably end up in the House of Lords.

It's a good job he wasn't wearing a cycle helmet. God knows what might've happened.