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| Phone hacking probe: Ex-News of the World editor Coulson arrested | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been arrested by police investigating phone hacking and corruption allegations. | |
| It came as David Cameron defended his decision to give Mr Coulson a "second chance" and employ him as his director of communications - a job he has left. | |
| The PM announced two inquiries - one led by a judge - into the phone hacking allegations and newspaper ethics. | |
| Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of phone hacking while he was NoW editor. | |
| Mr Coulson, 43, was arrested at 1030BST on Friday by detectives investigating allegations of hacking the phones of various people in the news and is also being questioned about corruption allegations. | |
| He was arrested by appointment at a south London police station and is in custody. | |
| Mr Cameron said of Mr Coulson: "I became friends with him and I think he did his job for me in a very effective way. He became a friend and he is a friend." | |
| On Thursday News International shut down the News of the World following a spate of fresh revelations. | On Thursday News International shut down the News of the World following a spate of fresh revelations. |
| The 168-year-old tabloid is accused of hacking into phones of crime victims, celebrities and politicians. Police have identified 4,000 possible targets. | The 168-year-old tabloid is accused of hacking into phones of crime victims, celebrities and politicians. Police have identified 4,000 possible targets. |
| Mr Cameron said a second inquiry would look at the ethics and culture of the press and he also said the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) would be scrapped, adding: "I believe we need a new system entirely". | Mr Cameron said a second inquiry would look at the ethics and culture of the press and he also said the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) would be scrapped, adding: "I believe we need a new system entirely". |
| He also questioned the tenability of Rebekah Brooks as News International chief executive considering she was editor of the News of the World at the time of Milly Dowler's phone being hacked. | He also questioned the tenability of Rebekah Brooks as News International chief executive considering she was editor of the News of the World at the time of Milly Dowler's phone being hacked. |
| Mr Cameron said there had been reports she had offered her resignation and added: "In this situation I would have taken it." | Mr Cameron said there had been reports she had offered her resignation and added: "In this situation I would have taken it." |
| In January 2007 the News of the World's royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, were both jailed for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for royal aides. | In January 2007 the News of the World's royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, were both jailed for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for royal aides. |
| The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, claims he warned Mr Cameron not to employ Mr Coulson. | The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, claims he warned Mr Cameron not to employ Mr Coulson. |
| But the prime minister said he did not remember receiving "any specific action or information about Andy Coulson" but would check with his officials. | |
| However, Mr Cameron said Mr Coulson had said he was unaware of the phone hacking which had been going on during his tenure at the paper. | However, Mr Cameron said Mr Coulson had said he was unaware of the phone hacking which had been going on during his tenure at the paper. |
| Asked if he had "screwed up" on the decision to employ Mr Coulson, Mr Cameron said: "People will decide." | Asked if he had "screwed up" on the decision to employ Mr Coulson, Mr Cameron said: "People will decide." |
| He said: "I decided to give him a second chance but the second chance didn't work. The decision to hire him was mine and mine alone." | He said: "I decided to give him a second chance but the second chance didn't work. The decision to hire him was mine and mine alone." |
| The prime minister said a company had been hired to run a "basic background check" on Mr Coulson before he was employed while the Conservatives were in Opposition. | The prime minister said a company had been hired to run a "basic background check" on Mr Coulson before he was employed while the Conservatives were in Opposition. |
| The PM said: "At the time it looked as if a proper investigation had taken place, someone had gone to prison, and it seemed reasonable to give him a second chance." | The PM said: "At the time it looked as if a proper investigation had taken place, someone had gone to prison, and it seemed reasonable to give him a second chance." |
| Mr Cameron admitted politicians were to blame for "turning a blind eye" to bad practices in journalism. | Mr Cameron admitted politicians were to blame for "turning a blind eye" to bad practices in journalism. |
| He said this was a "genuine opportunity" and a "cathartic moment" both for the media and for politicians and he said the phone hacking scandal was a "black cloud" hanging over Fleet Street. | He said this was a "genuine opportunity" and a "cathartic moment" both for the media and for politicians and he said the phone hacking scandal was a "black cloud" hanging over Fleet Street. |
| Asked about the decision to close the paper, Mr Cameron said: "What needs to change is not the name of the paper or the letterhead but the practices that go on. It's not for me to say which papers stay open or not." | Asked about the decision to close the paper, Mr Cameron said: "What needs to change is not the name of the paper or the letterhead but the practices that go on. It's not for me to say which papers stay open or not." |
| Police investigation | Police investigation |
| Mr Cameron admitted politicians and the media had got a bit "cosy" but he added: "As a party leader you are bound to want to want a relationship with the media because you want to get your message over and if that means talking to the head of the BBC, the editor of the Guardian or Rupert Murdoch I will go out and do that." | Mr Cameron admitted politicians and the media had got a bit "cosy" but he added: "As a party leader you are bound to want to want a relationship with the media because you want to get your message over and if that means talking to the head of the BBC, the editor of the Guardian or Rupert Murdoch I will go out and do that." |
| He said the scandal showed the PCC was "ineffective and lacking in rigour" and there was a need for a new watchdog. | He said the scandal showed the PCC was "ineffective and lacking in rigour" and there was a need for a new watchdog. |
| Mr Cameron said the judge-led inquiry would look into "why did the first police investigation fail so abysmally; what exactly was going on at the News of the World and what was going on at other newspapers?" | Mr Cameron said the judge-led inquiry would look into "why did the first police investigation fail so abysmally; what exactly was going on at the News of the World and what was going on at other newspapers?" |
| "Of course the bulk of this inquiry can only happen when the police investigation has finished. That is what the law requires," he added. | "Of course the bulk of this inquiry can only happen when the police investigation has finished. That is what the law requires," he added. |
| Asked about the takeover of BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Mr Cameron said Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was following "the proper legal processes and procedures". | Asked about the takeover of BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Mr Cameron said Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was following "the proper legal processes and procedures". |
| He said: "His role is to take the advice of independent regulators and, as his department have made clear this morning - given the events of recent days - this will take some time." | He said: "His role is to take the advice of independent regulators and, as his department have made clear this morning - given the events of recent days - this will take some time." |
| Afterwards the Labour leader Ed Miliband said the prime minister "clearly still doesn't get it". | |
| He said: "He is ploughing on regardless on BSkyB. He failed to apologise for the catastrophic mistake of bringing Andy Coulson into the heart of government. | |
| "His wholly unconvincing answers of what he knew and when he knew it about Mr Coulson's activities undermine his ability to lead the change that Britain needs." | |
| Staff at the paper have reacted with shock to news that it will be closed after this Sunday's edition. | Staff at the paper have reacted with shock to news that it will be closed after this Sunday's edition. |
| Its political editor, David Wooding, said the closure came as a "bombshell". | Its political editor, David Wooding, said the closure came as a "bombshell". |
| Mr Wooding said 200 jobs would be lost due to the actions of a few people. | Mr Wooding said 200 jobs would be lost due to the actions of a few people. |
| News Corpration put out a statement on Friday saying: "News Corporation notes today's comments by the Prime Minister with respect to its proposed offer to acquire the outstanding shares in BSkyB. Our priority is to continue to co-operate with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and the existing regulatory process." |