Until earlier this month, the former chief whip's foul - mouthed
tirade against police officers guarding the Downing Street gate was destined to be the number one gaffe of the year.
Andrew Mitchell's foul - mouthed
tirade against police officers on duty outside Downing Street was supposed to be nothing more than a Cabinet minister losing his temper so badly it damned the entire government as a bunch of not - caring Tory snobs.