Press release

Number 10 Press Briefing - Morning 20 December 2012

The Prime Minister's Spokesperson (PMS) answered questions on Andrew Mitchell and George Entwistle.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Andrew Mitchell

Asked about the developments in the Andrew Mitchell investigation, the PMS said that it was important that the police to got to the bottom of it as quickly as possible. It was the PM’s clear view that reasonable inquiries were made by the Cabinet Secretary at the time. Andrew Mitchell’s request for CCTV footage was considered under the Data Protection Act.

George Entwistle

Questioned about George Entwistle’s payoff, the PMS said it was for the BBC to justify. As the Culture Secretary had said in the House, it was hard to justify the level of severance money.

Published 20 December 2012