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Coulson to be Tories' press chief Coulson to be Tories' press chief
(40 minutes later)
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is to become the Conservative Party's head of communications. Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is to become the Conservative Party's Director of Communications.
Mr Coulson quit his job with the tabloid after one of his reporters was jailed for phone tapping celebrities including members of the Royal Family. Mr Coulson quit his job with the tabloid after one of his reporters was jailed for plotting to intercept phone messages left for royal aides.
He previously edited The Sun newspaper's Bizarre gossip column.He previously edited The Sun newspaper's Bizarre gossip column.
The job - Head of Communications and Planning - will be a key one as leader David Cameron prepares to take on incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The job - Director of Communications and Planning - will be a key one as David Cameron prepares to take on incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
A Tory spokesman said he was "an extremely experienced editor", who would give the Conservative press operation the extra "horsepower" it needed in the run up to the next general election. Mr Cameron said: "Andy is a hugely experienced journalist. I am delighted that he has agreed to join my team.
Press complaints verdict "Andy will make a formidable contribution as a senior member of my team in building the most effective strategy and operation to win the next general election. I look forward very much to working with him".
A Tory spokesman said Mr Coulson would give the Conservative press operation the extra "horsepower" it needed in the run up to the next general election.
'Key role'
"A lot of Andy's job will involve being in day-to-day contact with editors and senior commentators and dealing with long-term strategy," he added."A lot of Andy's job will involve being in day-to-day contact with editors and senior commentators and dealing with long-term strategy," he added.
"We are not looking for an Alastair Campbell figure - his reliance on spin and aggressive media management has been discredited."We are not looking for an Alastair Campbell figure - his reliance on spin and aggressive media management has been discredited.
"But we are looking for more horsepower and we are delighted that Andy will be playing a key role in David Cameron's top team.""But we are looking for more horsepower and we are delighted that Andy will be playing a key role in David Cameron's top team."
Mr Coulson resigned on the day Clive Goodman, the News of the World's former royal editor, was jailed for four months for illegal phone tapping. He said George Eustice would continue to be Mr Cameron's personal press secretary.
But a Tory spokesman said the party was satisfied Mr Coulson was not to blame for the scandal after he was cleared by a Press Complaints Commission investigation. He denied Mr Coulson's job would involve building bridges with the Tory-supporting newspapers and columnists who have launched scathing attacks on Mr Cameron's education policy in recent weeks.
"This has nothing to do with the controversy over grammar schools," he said.
Friends
Mr Coulson, 39, quit as News of the World editor in Jaunaury on the day Clive Goodman, the paper's former royal editor, was jailed for four months for illegal phone tapping.
A Tory spokesman said the party was satisfied Mr Coulson was not to blame for the scandal after he was cleared by a Press Complaints Commission investigation.
The PCC found no evidence that Mr Coulson or anyone else at the paper was aware of Goodman's illegal activities.The PCC found no evidence that Mr Coulson or anyone else at the paper was aware of Goodman's illegal activities.
A close friend of former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan, Mr Coulson started out as a reporter on the Basildon Evening Echo.
He rose rapidly through the News International ranks and in 2003 succeeded Rebekah Wade as editor of the News of the World.
His reign saw a string of old-fashioned tabloid exclusives, lifting the lid on the private lives of David Beckham, David Blunkett, Sven Goran Eriksson.
Commenting on his latest role, Mr Coulson said: "I am delighted to be joining David Cameron's team and I look forward to helping the Conservative Party to return to Government under his leadership."