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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron says Coulson's job 'safe' | Cameron says Coulson's job 'safe' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has insisted Andy Coulson's job as his communications director is safe. | Conservative leader David Cameron has insisted Andy Coulson's job as his communications director is safe. |
| Ex-home secretary Charles Clarke said he should be fired after revelations about phone messages being intercepted by the News of the World. | Ex-home secretary Charles Clarke said he should be fired after revelations about phone messages being intercepted by the News of the World. |
| The Guardian alleges up to 3,000 high profile figures - including ex-deputy PM John Prescott - were targeted by the paper Mr Coulson edited until 2007. | The Guardian alleges up to 3,000 high profile figures - including ex-deputy PM John Prescott - were targeted by the paper Mr Coulson edited until 2007. |
| Asked if Mr Coulson's job was safe, Mr Cameron said: "Yes, of course." | Asked if Mr Coulson's job was safe, Mr Cameron said: "Yes, of course." |
| 'Wrong' | |
| Mr Cameron sought to make a distinction between what Mr Coulson may have done in the past and what he does now for the Conservative Party. | |
| Speaking outside his home in West London, Mr Cameron said: "It's wrong for newspapers to breach people's privacy with no justification. | |
| As director of communications he does an excellent job for the Conservatives, in a proper, upright way at all times David Cameron, Conservative leader | |
| "That is why Andy Coulson resigned as editor of the News of the World two-and-a-half years ago. Of course I knew about that resignation before offering him the job. But I believe in giving people a second chance. | "That is why Andy Coulson resigned as editor of the News of the World two-and-a-half years ago. Of course I knew about that resignation before offering him the job. But I believe in giving people a second chance. |
| "As director of communications he does an excellent job for the Conservatives, in a proper, upright way at all times." | "As director of communications he does an excellent job for the Conservatives, in a proper, upright way at all times." |
| Mr Coulson, who has yet to comment on whether he knew about phone hacking at the paper, issued a statement on Wednesday saying "this story relates to an alleged payment made after I left the News of the World two and a half years ago. I have no knowledge whatsoever of any settlement with Gordon Taylor". | |
| The Conservatives argue that calls by senior Labour figures such as Charles Clarke and John Prescott for Mr Coulson to be sacked were politically-motivated attempts to destabilise Mr Cameron. | |
| Mr Prescott, who has said he will contact the police over claims phone messages were intercepted by investigators hired by a News of the World reporter, said: "This really does call Cameron's judgement into question in hiring Coulson. The question Cameron must answer is 'do you back him or sack him?'" | |
| Investigation | |
| But pressure is growing to re-open inquiries into what went on at the News of the World with a Home Office minister due to be asked about it in the House of Commons at 1130 BST. | |
| And Tory MP John Whittingdale, chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, said they were planning to meet to discuss the issue "as a matter of urgency". | |
| "It may well be that we decide we wish to have somebody from News International to appear before us." | |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson told BBC London it would defy belief if Mr Coulson, as the editor of the News of the World, did not know what was going on in the newspaper and the methods that were being used. | |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the problem Mr Cameron faces was that new questions were now being opened about the past. | |
| He said Mr Coulson had "already broken rule one for any spin doctor - 'Never become the story,' adding: "He's good enough at his job to know that this story could soon become one about David Cameron's judgement." |