Police officers who met with former Government Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell at the height of the plebgate scandal misled the media in a bid to discredit the politician.

In a damning report, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said representatives of the Police Federation wanted to discredit Mitchell.

A Sun report of Mitchell's altercation with police at the gates of Number 10 is the subject of an ongoing libel action. The Sun is using a 'responsible journalism' defence.