Accountability

In their seminal 1967 song, Creeque Alley, the Mamas and the Papas sang the line "trying to get a fish on the line". Andrew Mitchell must be able to identify with this lyric because the fish in his waters are wriggling furiously at present. It is unpleasant to see grown men wriggle. Their dignity and honour would be better served by confronting their mistakes and taking responsibility for them. With regard to the whole sorry mess concerning Andrew Mitchell, the Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales yesterday asserted that the organisation had taken a clear line but that he could not account for all 43 local federations. If he is the Chairman, who exactly is accountable for all 43 local federations. If not him, he is evidently surplus to requirements. While I remain in reasonably good humour, I shall refrain from seeking the particulars of his present renumeration. His already low stock plunged yet further yesterday when he refused to comment on members wearing t-shirts emblazoned with PC Pleb. He prefered to wait for the outcome of the investigation currently being conducted by thirty police officers all of whom will be members of the Police Federation. Aside from the fact that he takes us all for complete morons, it is the arrogance that angers me. Lord Baker last night warned against the Police becoming political in its view. He is absolutely right. We can't stop someone from thinking in a political way and nor should we, but we can ask that they keep such thoughts to themselves and get on with the job they are paid to do. Political views are fertile in all walks of life but not to the extent that they interfere with jobs. Doctors have to treat their patients irrespective of political belief and as another public body, the police are no different. They clearly believe they are different and this needs to be addressed. A succession of governments have pussy footed around the police and it needs to stop. Given the current state of play in the Mitchell affair, now would be the right time to sort this out properly.

The police have misgivings about anyone from outside coming in to oversee their organisation and yet such practice is now the norm in public life all around them. Of course, the real issue here revolves around money. They don't want their pensions, pay, promotions or early retirement tampered with. I'm all right Jack - pull the ladder up! Well, sorry boys, but we really are all in this together. There are millions unemployed who would be more than happy to come in and do this or any other job right now. Money is hard for everyone. Its time to be grateful for what we have and to put up or shut up. The arguments inevitably come back around what a challenging job the police have. This is not in dispute! We all appreciate the challenges they face and this is reflected in their salaries, pensions and early retirement. Last night, one of their defenders argued that officers were being denied their right to promotions. Come in boat number six! Nobody has a right to a promotion. Promotion is earned if it is even available. I've known scores of brilliant people who never had the promotion they deserved but just got on with it anyway. Life unfortunately does not always go the way we would wish.

To his great credit, Andrew Mitchell resigned not because he was guilty of the allegations leveled against him, but because he was so utterly fed up with the constant baying for his blood by the Police Federation and the left wing press. It is a shame that certain individuals connected to the Police don't have a fraction of his honour and follow suit. This refusing to go in the face of overwhelming evidence has been gradually making its way into our public life over the last fifteen years or so. When Gordon Brown was caught on microphone refering to "that bigoted woman", he did not go. When John Prescott was found to be conducting an extra-marital affair during work hours at tax payers expense, he did not go. When, Peter Mandelson was found guilty of dodgy financial transactions he did go only to be reinststed a few months later when the dust had settled. Of course, I could go on and on but the point is made. Hypocrisy is sadly alive and kicking in British Public Life and it seems there is little we can do to change things. As a point of interest, I haven't yet heard a squeak from the Labour front benches regarding the Mitchell affair. We couldn't shut them up a fortnight ago..."You're not singing anymore" as they sing on the football terraces! For the record, if it hadn't been for the profligate spending of the previous Labour administration when the times were good and if it hadn't been for Gordon Brown giving away the national gold reserve, perhaps we wouldn't be in this mess today and the precious pensions, pay, promotions and early retirements of the police would just carry on unchallenged. Every cloud as they say.