Plebgate

English

Etymology

pleb +‎ -gate

Proper noun

Plebgate

1. (UK, informal) A 2012 scandal in which Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell was accused of swearing at Downing Street police officers and calling them "plebs"; subsequent to Mitchell's resignation, CCTV and other evidence was revealed which appeared to call into question some of the evidence against him.
   • 2015 August 7, Marina Hyde, “Forget law and order: today’s police officers dream of going viral”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     In government, meanwhile, Theresa May is the first home secretary in memory not to have appeared petrified of the police, while for many in her party, Plebgate was the moment at which the scales fell from their eyes as far as the cops were concerned.

Synonyms

• Gategate
• Plodgate