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George Osborne: Coulson denied phone hacking went beyond rogue reporter George Osborne: Coulson denied phone hacking went beyond rogue reporter
(40 minutes later)
Andy Coulson denied to George Osborne in 2007 that he knew that phone hacking at the News of World went beyond a single rogue reporter, according to evidence given by the chancellor in the Leveson inquiry.Andy Coulson denied to George Osborne in 2007 that he knew that phone hacking at the News of World went beyond a single rogue reporter, according to evidence given by the chancellor in the Leveson inquiry.
The senior Conservative politician also admitted that "a third" of his meetings with media owners and top executives since 2005 were with News International, including a meeting at a chalet at Davos in early 2009 and a dinner in April 2011 as phone hacking revelations mounted.The senior Conservative politician also admitted that "a third" of his meetings with media owners and top executives since 2005 were with News International, including a meeting at a chalet at Davos in early 2009 and a dinner in April 2011 as phone hacking revelations mounted.
Osborne said that as shadow chancellor he briefly asked Coulson about phone hacking in March 2007, when he was sounding him out for the job of director of communications for the Conservative party.Osborne said that as shadow chancellor he briefly asked Coulson about phone hacking in March 2007, when he was sounding him out for the job of director of communications for the Conservative party.
This was two months after Coulson resigned as News of the World editor after the paper's royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for phone-hacking related offences.This was two months after Coulson resigned as News of the World editor after the paper's royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for phone-hacking related offences.
Coulson has always maintained that he had no knowledge of or involvement in phone hacking at the paper, but took responsibility for what happened on his watch and resigned.Coulson has always maintained that he had no knowledge of or involvement in phone hacking at the paper, but took responsibility for what happened on his watch and resigned.
Osborne said that he asked Coulson "in a general sense, as you might do in a social encounter, whether there was more in the phone hacking story that was going to come out, that was not already public, that we needed to know about – and he said no".Osborne said that he asked Coulson "in a general sense, as you might do in a social encounter, whether there was more in the phone hacking story that was going to come out, that was not already public, that we needed to know about – and he said no".
The Conservative minister was the man who recommended to David Cameron that he consider hiring Coulson.The Conservative minister was the man who recommended to David Cameron that he consider hiring Coulson.
Osborne conceded that he thought the appointment was controversial, but said it was worth doing because "I thought in the end the balance was that it was worth hiring someone with real talent and ability, and weathering the adverse publicity of appointing someone who had had to resign from the News of the World".Osborne conceded that he thought the appointment was controversial, but said it was worth doing because "I thought in the end the balance was that it was worth hiring someone with real talent and ability, and weathering the adverse publicity of appointing someone who had had to resign from the News of the World".
The chancellor and key Conservative strategist said that he had consulted Rebekah Brooks – then editor of the Sun and a close friend of Coulson's – as Cameron deliberated on the potential appointment, but he sought to play down its importance.The chancellor and key Conservative strategist said that he had consulted Rebekah Brooks – then editor of the Sun and a close friend of Coulson's – as Cameron deliberated on the potential appointment, but he sought to play down its importance.
"I don't want to overstate the importance of [talking to Brooks] I've just put it in here for completeness," he said."I don't want to overstate the importance of [talking to Brooks] I've just put it in here for completeness," he said.
Carefully choosing his language, Osborne consistently sought to de-emphasise Coulson's links with News International, and said that the former News of the World editor was only helpful in dealing with the publisher of the Sun and the Times simply "because he was the director of communications".Carefully choosing his language, Osborne consistently sought to de-emphasise Coulson's links with News International, and said that the former News of the World editor was only helpful in dealing with the publisher of the Sun and the Times simply "because he was the director of communications".
On the same theme, Osborne said that "it was not a consideration: let's hire the ex-News International man. It was: let's hire this very experience ex-newspaper editor". He added that he thought Coulson had "a particular talent and ability" he had detected in dealings with him during his time as shadow chancellor.On the same theme, Osborne said that "it was not a consideration: let's hire the ex-News International man. It was: let's hire this very experience ex-newspaper editor". He added that he thought Coulson had "a particular talent and ability" he had detected in dealings with him during his time as shadow chancellor.
He argued that the "endorsement of the Sun has been elevated to almost mythical status", which was "just one of a whole range of things we felt we had to get right in the run-up to a general election".He argued that the "endorsement of the Sun has been elevated to almost mythical status", which was "just one of a whole range of things we felt we had to get right in the run-up to a general election".
There were few other questions for Osborne about Coulson from Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, who opted not to ask David Cameron's right hand man what he thought about the mounting allegations of phone hacking after July 2009, and whether he believed the Conservatives communications head was still right for the job.There were few other questions for Osborne about Coulson from Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, who opted not to ask David Cameron's right hand man what he thought about the mounting allegations of phone hacking after July 2009, and whether he believed the Conservatives communications head was still right for the job.
Osborne, concluding his evidence on Coulson, said the editor turned PR man had become a "personal friend", although he added "sadly I've not been able to speak to him for a year". Earlier this month Coulson was charged with perjury by the Scottish police relating to evidence he had previously given in the trial of Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan.Osborne, concluding his evidence on Coulson, said the editor turned PR man had become a "personal friend", although he added "sadly I've not been able to speak to him for a year". Earlier this month Coulson was charged with perjury by the Scottish police relating to evidence he had previously given in the trial of Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan.
Osborne said that he met with Rebekah Brooks and James Murdoch for dinner on the night of 5 April 2011, hours after Ian Edmondson, the former news editor of the News of the World and Neville Thurlbeck, the paper's former chief reporter, were arrested. He said the BSkyB deal was not mentioned at that dinner.Osborne said that he met with Rebekah Brooks and James Murdoch for dinner on the night of 5 April 2011, hours after Ian Edmondson, the former news editor of the News of the World and Neville Thurlbeck, the paper's former chief reporter, were arrested. He said the BSkyB deal was not mentioned at that dinner.
He also revealed that he met the Murdochs at a chalet at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2009, but said it wasn't a "crucial encounter".He also revealed that he met the Murdochs at a chalet at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2009, but said it wasn't a "crucial encounter".
Osborne readily admitted that by the time the Sun switched political allegiance in September 2009, he and others in the party had had "quite a lot of lunches or dinners with the Murdoch family".Osborne readily admitted that by the time the Sun switched political allegiance in September 2009, he and others in the party had had "quite a lot of lunches or dinners with the Murdoch family".
His close ties to the Murdoch family also saw him get an invitation from Rebekah Brooks to a dinner on 6 September 2008 to celebrate Elisabeth Murdoch's 40th birthday. But he said he was not too close to News International, quipping "if it was a question of outlunching them I don't think we would have beaten New Labour". His close ties to the Murdoch family also saw him get an invitation from Rebekah Brooks to a dinner with Elisabeth Murdoch's on 6 September 2008 shortly after Elisabeth Murdoch's 40th birthday. But he said he was not too close to News International, quipping "if it was a question of outlunching them I don't think we would have beaten New Labour".
Osborne also said that the Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein helped him with his speeches. "He occasionally provides good one-liners and jokes", he added, but said that there was nothing improper about their friendship, which stretched back many years.Osborne also said that the Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein helped him with his speeches. "He occasionally provides good one-liners and jokes", he added, but said that there was nothing improper about their friendship, which stretched back many years.
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