British policeman faces charges of lying over the 'plebgate' scandal
Seven others to be disciplined over the scandal that toppled key Conservative Andrew Mitchell
A British policeman has been charged with misconduct and seven others face disciplinary proceedings over the "plebgate" scandal which brought down a government minister.
Former Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell was involved in an altercation with police as he tried to push his bicycle through the gates at Prime Minister David Cameron's Downing Street residence.
Prosecutors said they had charged police officer Keith Wallis with lying about witnessing the row in September 19, last year, but said there was no evidence of a conspiracy against the ex-international development minister.
Mitchell hit back after the decision, accusing the policeman with whom he had the argument of falsely claiming that the minister had called police "plebs", a derogatory word used to describe commoners.
"I have told the truth about this incident. The police did not. My reputation has been destroyed," Mitchell told a packed news conference at his lawyer's office in central London.
He said the case raised serious questions about the integrity of the police.
"If the police can do this in such a casual way in one of the safest areas in Britain and get away with it, then they can do it to anyone, anywhere, and at any time," he said.
