Scotland Yard was today accused of “dragging its feet” over the Plebgate affair by a Tory MP and friend of former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell.
In a jibe at the slow pace of the Metropolitan Police investigation, Croydon South MP Richard Ottaway said he feared the matter was being quietly “kicked into the long grass”, adding: “This is a senior public figure whose reputation is on the line; the Met police should not be dragging its feet.”
Five months have elapsed since Mr Mitchell was accused of calling police officers on duty in Downing Street “f***ing plebs” when they declined to open the gates for him to cycle through. He denies using the words.
In December, the Met opened an investigation into claims that evidence was fabricated, known as Operation Alice. Four people have been arrested and dozens of police officers questioned.
Mr Ottaway said of the Met: “They set themselves a deadline of the end of January and now it is the end of February and it has gone completely quiet.”
A police spokesman said Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe had made clear two weeks ago that there was “no intention to drag it out”.
