Coulson ‘banned talk about phone hacking’

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is facing fresh questions over his role in the phone-hacking scandal after MPs released documents claiming the practice was “widely discussed” at the newspaper.

Papers published by the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee suggest the issue frequently came up at the paper’s editorial meetings until Mr Coulson banned any further mention of the subject.

Despite resigning as the paper’s editor in 2007, Mr Coulson has consistently maintained he had been unaware of the practice, claiming it was confined to one “rogue” reporter – former royal editor Clive Goodman.

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Labour MP Tom Watson described the latest claims as “devastating” and said they suggested previous evidence given by Mr Coulson to the committee was “at best misleading and probably deceptive”.

The disclosure is also potentially highly embarrassing for David Cameron who made Mr Coulson his director of communications after he quit the News of the World and has said he would make a “profound apology” if it turned out Mr Coulson – who has already been questioned by police – had lied to him about his involvement when he gave him the job.

A Downing Street spokesman said it would be “inappropriate” to comment, adding: “The Prime Minister has made his thoughts on Andy Coulson clear.”

In further developments, Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairman John Whittingdale indicated it would probably recall James Murdoch after his evidence to the committee that he was not made aware in 2008 of an email indicating the practice of illegally intercepting voicemails was not confined to a single “rogue” reporter.

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Former legal manager Tom Crone and Mr Coulson’s successor as editor, Colin Myler, have insisted they told him of the email, and both will appear before the committee on September 6. MPs have also written to Mr Coulson, his predecessor Rebekah Brooks, the tabloid’s former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, and former News International chief executive Les Hinton to ask whether they wish to clarify earlier evidence.

The latest documents released by the committee include a letter written by Mr Goodman in March 2007 appealing against his dismissal following his conviction and jail term for hacking the phones of royal aides along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

In it he stated: “The decision is perverse in that the actions leading to this criminal charge were carried out with the full knowledge and support of [BLANKED OUT]. Payment for Glen (sic) Mulcaire’s services was arranged by [BLANKED OUT]. The decision is inconsistent, because [BLANKED OUT] and other members of staff were carrying out the same illegal procedures.”

He added: “This practice was widely discussed in the daily editorial conference, until explicit reference to it was banned by the editor.” Mr Goodman also said he had been assured he would be given his job back if he did not implicate anyone else at the paper when he appeared in court.

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Mr Watson, who has campaigned strongly on the issue, said the letter raised “very, very serious” questions about Mr Coulson’s claims he was unaware of phone-hacking.

“Clearly, if Clive Goodman’s account is accurate, it shows the evidence he gave us was at best misleading and probably deceptive,” he said.

Mr Watson also stressed it was vital the committee received an explanation about payments made to people who left the News of the World.

In a separate submission to the committee, James Murdoch, the deputy chief executive of News Corp, had disclosed payments worth £243,502 had been made to Mr Goodman in relation to his claim of unfair dismissal, including £13,000 in legal fees. He said he had been informed that approximately £246,000 had been paid to Mr Mulcaire’s lawyers.

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“The Goodman letter I genuinely think is devastating and shows that if it is accurate the whole foundation of the company defence, in all the evidence they gave to all the inquiries, was bogus, and so we need to bottom that out,” Mr Watson said.

Mr Goodman’s letter was included in a bundle of documents submitted by solicitors Harbottle and Lewis which carried out a review of internal News of the World emails in relation to Mr Goodman’s claim for wrongful dismissal.

The scandal story so far

January 2007 – Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire jailed. Andy Coulson resigns.

May 2007 – David Cameron appoints Mr Coulson as the Conservative Party’s director of communications.

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July 2009 – Mr Coulson tells MPs he knew nothing about alleged phone hacking.

January 2011 – Mr Coulson resigns as Downing Street communications chief. Five days later Scotland Yard launches a fresh inquiry into the phone hacking.

July 2011 – The final edition of the News of the World. Sir Paul Stephenson resigns as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, John Yates resigns as Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner.

July 2011 – Rupert and James Murdoch give evidence to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.