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| Phone hacking probe: Ex-News of the World editor Coulson arrested | 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. | Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been arrested by police investigating phone hacking and corruption allegations. |
| And ex-NoW royal editor Clive Goodman, jailed in 2007 for phone hacking, has been arrested over corruption claims. | And ex-NoW royal editor Clive Goodman, jailed in 2007 for phone hacking, has been arrested over corruption claims. |
| It came as Prime Minister David Cameron defended his decision to employ Mr Coulson and announced two inquiries - one led by a judge - into the scandal. | It came as Prime Minister David Cameron defended his decision to employ Mr Coulson and announced two inquiries - one led by a judge - into the scandal. |
| Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of phone hacking while he was NoW editor. | Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of phone hacking while he was NoW editor. |
| Meanwhile, broadcasting regulator Ofcom has written to the chairman of the Commons culture committee highlighting its duty to ensure that anyone holding a broadcasting licence is a "fit and proper" person to do so. | |
| The letter says "in considering whether any licensee remains a fit and proper person to hold broadcasting licences Ofcom will consider any relevant conduct of those who manage and control such a licence". | |
| It comes as the paper's ultimate owner - Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation - is proposing to take over BSkyB. | |
| Fresh revelations | Fresh revelations |
| Mr Coulson, 43, was arrested at 1030 BST on Friday by detectives investigating allegations of hacking the phones of various people in the news and is also being questioned about corruption allegations. | Mr Coulson, 43, was arrested at 1030 BST 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. | He was arrested by appointment at a south London police station and is in custody. |
| A number of suited men, thought to be police officers, entered Mr Coulson's south London home with large plastic crates at about 1200 BST. | A number of suited men, thought to be police officers, entered Mr Coulson's south London home with large plastic crates at about 1200 BST. |
| And, following his arrest, Goodman, 53, is understood to be being held at a south London police station, although not the same one as Mr Coulson. | And, following his arrest, Goodman, 53, is understood to be being held at a south London police station, although not the same one as Mr Coulson. |
| 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." | 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." |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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| News International has said it is shutting the News of the World after this Sunday's edition following a spate of fresh revelations. | News International has said it is shutting the News of the World after this Sunday's edition 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 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. |
| Mr Cameron said a second inquiry would look at the ethics and culture of the press and that the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) should 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 that the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) should 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 murdered schoolgirl 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 murdered schoolgirl 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 Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, were both jailed for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for royal aides. | In January 2007 Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, were both jailed for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for royal aides. |
| Background check | Background check |
| Mr Coulson, who was the paper's editor at the time, said he took "ultimate responsibility" for the scandal but insisted he was unaware of any phone hacking by his journalists. | Mr Coulson, who was the paper's editor at the time, said he took "ultimate responsibility" for the scandal but insisted he was unaware of any phone hacking by his journalists. |
| He was employed as Mr Cameron's director of communications in 2007 but Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger claims he warned Mr Cameron's team not to employ Mr Coulson. | He was employed as Mr Cameron's director of communications in 2007 but Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger claims he warned Mr Cameron's team not to employ Mr Coulson. |
| The prime minister said he did not remember receiving "any specific action or information about Andy Coulson" but would check with his officials. | The prime minister said he did not remember receiving "any specific action or information about Andy Coulson" but would check with his officials. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Unconvincing answers' | 'Unconvincing answers' |
| 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." | 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." |
| Mr Cameron admitted politicians and the media had got a bit "cosy" but he added: "As a party leader you are bound 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 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." |
| 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". | 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. | 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." | "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." |
| Do you work for the News of the World? What do you think of the paper's closure? Will you buy Sunday's last edition? Send us your comments using the form below. | Do you work for the News of the World? What do you think of the paper's closure? Will you buy Sunday's last edition? Send us your comments using the form below. |