THE CHIEF WHIP of the British government has resigned tonight after an incident in which he allegedly referred to police officers at 10 Downing Street as ‘plebs’.

Downing Street press office confirmed that Andrew Mitchell tendered his resignation to David Cameron this evening, four weeks after the incident took place.

Mitchell had been accused of calling police officers “plebs” and swearing at them after he was told to dismount his bicycle and use a pedestrian gate as he exited from Downing Street following a meeting with the British Prime Minister.

The Sun newspaper, which broke the story, said that Mitchell had told the officers: “Open this gate, I’m the Chief Whip… Best you  learn your f***ing place. You don’t run this f***ing government… You’re f***ing plebs”.

Mitchell acknowledged that a confrontation had taken place but denied that he had used the world “plebs”.

In an apology shortly after the incident, he said he had not shown the police officers “the amount of respect [he] should have done” during the confrontation.

The controversy over the alleged comments had continued to simmer for almost a month. On Wednesday of this week Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mitchell was “toast” as some Conservative MPs began to publicly voice concerns about whether Mitchell could remain in his position.

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