Andrew Mitchell faces a Commons bid to dock his salary by £1,000 as punishment for swearing at a police officer in Downing Street.
Labour leader Ed Miliband is backing a plan to call a vote to humiliate the Conservative Chief Whip by imposing a “fine”.
Mr Mitchell is still fighting for his job for allegedly saying “f***ing pleb” to an officer who refused to open the gates at Downing Street for him to cycle through on September 19. He denies using those words but refuses to reveal what he did say. Some Conservative MPs are demanding that he quit, saying he will lack the authority needed in a Chief Whip. At least one has urged the chairman of the 1922 Committee, which represents Tory backbenchers, to tell the Prime Minister that Mr Mitchell has lost the confidence of MPs.
One Tory said: “He should have been sacked immediately, instead of this dragging on.” A Cabinet minister admitted that the case remained “problematic”. Mr Mitchell’s friends say the majority of MPs and ministers are supporting him.
Pressure would increase if Labour’s motion is called for a vote. Many Liberal Democrats would be likely to abstain or vote with Labour.
Labour said £1,000 was the approximate amount that someone on his earnings would be fined for swearing at a police officer if tried by a magistrate. A Labour source said: “If David Cameron is not going to act on Andrew Mitchell’s mess, then Parliament should.”
