Conservative Michael Fabricant has said fellow Midland MP Andrew Mitchell could have avoided hefty court costs over the “plebgate” row if he had shown a “scintilla of humility”.
Former Government chief whip and Sutton Coldfield MP Mr Mitchell has lost his High Court libel action over the incident after he was accused of calling police officers plebs .
Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant took to Twitter to express his sympathy for the police officers who lost their jobs and suggested Mr Mitchell could have avoided a lengthy court battle.
Mr Fabricant tweeted: “This is a personal tragedy for Andrew Mitchell which needn’t have happened if only he had sown (sic) a scintilla of humility.
“I am also sorry for the 3 Downing St police officers who lost their jobs and pensions simply for speaking to the press.”
Mr Fabricant was sacked as Conservative vice-chairman earlier this year and is no stranger to Twitter controversy including saying he'd punch a journalist in the throat .
Mr Mitchell sued News Group Newspapers (NGN) over a September 2012 story in the Sun which he said meant he was guilty of launching a grossly offensive and arrogant attack on Downing Street police officers who refused to allow him to cycle through the main vehicle gates, branding them “f****** plebs”.
NGN based its report, which it said was substantially true, on the account given in his log by Pc Toby Rowland.
Giving his ruling, Mr Justice Mitting said: “For the reasons given I am satisfied at least on the balance of probabilities that Mr Mitchell did speak the words alleged or something so close to them as to amount to the same including the politically toxic word pleb.”
