THE chairman of West Mercia Police Federation is being investigated for his conduct during the Andrew Mitchell “plebgate” affair, it has emerged.

Ken Mackaill is being probed by investigators following the fall-out from the saga, which led to Mr Mitchell resigning as the Government’s chief whip.

The Conservative quit office amid claims he abused a police officer outside Downing Street last September and called him a “pleb”.

But the MP always denied the claim - and after his resignation CCTV and other evidence came to light which appeared to back him up.

Ten senior police officers now suspected of plotting to discredit the politician are now being investigated - one of which is Mr Mackaill, who lives in Droitwich.

Your Worcester News understands a key part of the probe will be Mr Mackaill’s conduct during a meeting with the MP at his Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham constituency in October.

Mr Mackaill came out of the 45-minute discussion saying Mr Mitchell’s position was “untenable”, adding: “I think he has to resign.”

He also gave interviews to Sky and the BBC calling for the politician to step down.

Police will be looking into whether he mis-represented what Mr Mitchell told him during the meeting.

Contacted by your Worcester News this morning, he said: “I’ve not been interviewed yet but I welcome the investigation to establish what happened.

"I've been told about it but I am getting on with the job as normal.”

He said he had nothing to fear from the police probe, which is being conducted by forces in West Mercia, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.

The dispute occurred on September 19 last year when police officers asked Mr Mitchell to exit Downing Street through the pedestrian gate rather than the main gate.

After he resigned as chief whip, it emerged that one so-called witness to his outburst was not even at the scene, and was a serving police officer.

A police log also claimed there was several members of the public at the scene “visibly shocked” at his rant, but CCTV did not show any.

Mr Mitchell admitted swearing under his breath in the presence of police, but always denied using the word “pleb”.

The Metropolitan Police has launched its own inquiry, called Operation Alice, into several accusations of false allegations, although Mr Mackaill’s investigation is not connected to that.

For more on this story, see your Worcester News tomorrow.