Keeping the Rabble in Line

Daveybloke's monitor in charge of rah-rah, Andrew "The Patrician" Mitchell, has once again failed to deal effectively with the servants. A meeting intended to clear the air resulted in "an impasse on the integrity issue" or, in Standard English, in each side calling the other a liar. The police wanted a signed confession, an abject apology and a commitment to keep the peace in future; the Patrician, presumably on Daveybloke's orders, wanted the police to assist him in denying any hint of privileged posh-boy nastiness. The Patrician has admitted swearing at officers, but has also effectively called the same officers liars by denying that he used the words they claim he used; specifically the word "pleb" which would imply that police personnel are no better than nurses, single mothers, the disabled and other low-paid enemies of the people. The chair of the West Mercia Police Federation opined that Mitchell's position is now untenable; given that Daveybloke's cabinet includes the likes of Nick Clegg, Michael Gove, Maria Miller and David Laws, this may be a trifle optimistic. Certainly, it is scarcely the old feudal spirit.