Andy Coulson

Andrew Edward Coulson (born 21 January 1968^[1][2]) is an English journalist and political strategist.

Coulson was the editor of the News of the World from 2003 until his resignation in 2007, following the conviction of one of the newspaper's reporters in relation to illegal phone-hacking.

He subsequently joined David Cameron's personnel as communications director, until announcing his departure on 21 January 2011 because of continued media coverage of the phone-hacking affair.^[3][4] He was replaced on 2 February 2011 by former BBC Global News Controller of English Craig Oliver.^[5] Coulson was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Service on 8 July 2011 "in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking".^[6]

He was detained and charged with perjury by Strathclyde Police on 30 May 2012.^[7][8][9]

Early life

Coulson grew up in Wickford, Essex. He attended Beauchamps High School, a secondary school and sixth form college, from 1979 to 1986. Coulson's parents moved from their Basildon council house to nearby Wickford during his childhood.^[1]

Career

Coulson started work at 18 as a junior reporter on the Basildon Echo in 1986. In 1988, he moved to The Sun, working with Piers Morgan on the Bizarre column and subsequently hiring current Sun editor Dominic Mohan. In 1994, he briefly moved to the Daily Mail, but after nine weeks moved back to The Sun to edit Bizarre. He set up the website page3.com, which was the first of News International's websites to make a profit. In 2001, in the run up to the general election, he asked Tony and Cherie Blair whether they were members of the mile high club. He became deputy editor of the News of the World in 2000.^[10]

News of the World editor

Coulson replaced Rebekah Wade as editor in 2003. In an interview with the Press Gazette in 2005, he said that "Tabloid newspapers in this country do more for its people than any other newspapers in the world".^[10]

Coulson resigned on 26 January 2007 over the News of the World phone hacking affair which would several weeks later see the jailing for four months of the paper's Royal correspondent Clive Goodman. Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, remunerated by the newspaper, was given a custodial sentence of six months.^[11]

On 21 July 2009 Coulson appeared in front of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and denied any knowledge of the phone hacking scandal, saying "my instructions to the staff were clear – we did not use subterfuge of any kind unless there was a clear public interest in doing so. They were to work within the PCC code at all times".^[12]

In 2008 an employment tribunal upheld a claim of bullying by Coulson whilst he was at the News of The World. A Stratford employment tribunal upheld a claim of unfair dismissal claimed by senior sports writer Matt Driscoll, and stated "We find the behaviour to have been a consistent pattern of bullying behaviour".^[13] The judgement singled out Coulson for making "bullying" remarks in an email to Driscoll. The paper was told to pay Driscoll £800,000.^[14]

Conservative Party communications director

Coulson became the Conservative Party's director of communications on 9 July 2007. Various media stories estimated his salary at between £275,000^[15] and £475,000; the party indicated the latter figure was "inaccurate" and that his salary was "substantially less" but refused to provide an exact figure.^[16] In July 2011 the Mail on Sunday alleged that Cameron had been about to appoint the BBC's Guto Harri, but was persuaded by Rebekah Wade to appoint Coulson. The paper quoted "an individual intimately involved in Mr Coulson's recruitment" as saying "Rebekah indicated the job should go to Andy. Cameron was told it should be someone acceptable to News International. The company was also desperate to find something for Andy after he took the rap when the phone hacking first became an issue. The approach was along the lines of, 'If you find something for Andy we will return the favour'."^[17]

Director of Communications for the Prime Minister

After David Cameron became Prime Minister in May 2010, he appointed Coulson as Director of Communications for the government at 10 Downing Street. His pay was £140,000, the highest paid special advisor.^[18]

Coulson announced his resignation on 21 January 2011. He commented about the News of the World allegations "I stand by what I've said about those events but when the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on."^[19][20]

In July 2011 questions were raised about Coulson's security vetting at Number Ten. He had not been subjected to the highest level of vetting, "developed vetting", allowing unrestricted access to Top Secret material. His predecessors had had the highest level of vetting, as did his successor and (after his departure) his deputy. The Guardian said that the disclosure "is understood to have 'absolutely shocked' some Whitehall information staff."^[21] According to Chris Bryant MP, senior officials working with Coulson believed that he had the same clearance level as his predecessor.^[22] Coulson continued to be an embarrassment to Cameron as it emerged that he was still being paid by News International while working for the then opposition leader.^[23]

Private Consultancy

On the 7 February 2011, Coulson and his wife established 'Elbrus Consultants Ltd' (UK Company Number 07519035). The purpose of the company is not recorded by Companies House, but is reportedly a PR agency.^[24] Clients include 'One Young World'.^[25] Kate Roberston of One Young World told the Guardian "He can't do One Young World work at the moment, that is absolutely clear".^[26]

Renewed allegations on phone hacking

As the Conservative Party's director of communications, Coulson continued to be subjected to allegations that he was aware of the hacking of phones while serving as the editor of News of the World. On 7 July 2009, John Prescott called on leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron to remove Coulson from his position, after The Guardian revealed further details about phone-hacking by the News of the World.^[27] Cameron, though, defended Coulson on the morning of 9 July: "I believe in giving people a second chance. As director of communications for the Conservatives he does an excellent job in a proper, upright way at all times."^[28]

On 1 September 2010 The New York Times printed new allegations from former News of the World reporters alleging that Coulson had "actively encouraged" reporters to illegally intercept voicemail messages, and that he "was present during discussions about phone hacking".^[29] Coulson has denied these latest claims.^[30] Sean Hoare, – showbusiness reporter at News of the World during Coulson's reign – speaking on Five Live, who accused Coulson of lying, has said that indeed Coulson did not ask him to phone hack but veiled his request in "metaphorical language" and asked him to practice his "dark arts".^[31] And Clive Goodman, in a letter from 2007: "The practice was widely discussed in the daily editorial conference, until explicit reference to it was banned by the editor."^[32]

A report aired on Channel 4's Dispatches in October included remarks made by an unnamed source, said to have been a former senior journalist at the News of the World who worked alongside Coulson. The source alleged that Coulson had personally listened to messages obtained through phone hacking.^[33][34]

He was a witness in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan, where he denied under oath that he had any knowledge of phone hacking at the News of the World, or that he knew Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective at the centre of controversy.^[35]

However, the Crown Prosecution Service said in December 2010 that it had determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge Coulson over allegations that he was aware of phone-hacking at the publication. The CPS said that witnesses interviewed by Metropolitan Police – including those who had previously made allegations through media outlets – had not been willing to provide admissible evidence.^[36]

The Guardian reported on 7 July 2011 that Coulson was to be arrested the following day, along with a senior journalist whom the paper refused to name.^[37]

Coulson was arrested at Scotland Yard at 10:30 am on 8 July 2011.^[38] He was questioned under caution, and later that day released on police bail until October, but made no comment on his release.^[39]

Perjury charge

He was detained by Strathclyde Police at 0630 BST on 30 May 2012 in London, and taken to Govan Police Station in Glasgow arriving shortly before 1530 BST.^[7] He was later charged with having committed perjury in 2010 during HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan.^{[8][9] [40]}

Personal life

Coulson married Eloise Patrick; they have two children and live in Forest Hill, South London.^[1] He follows Tottenham Hotspur.^[41]

See Also

• News International phone hacking scandal
• Phone hacking scandal reference lists
• Metropolitan police role in phone hacking scandal

References

External links

• Andy Coulson collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Profile: Andy Coulson, BBC News, 8 July 2011