Public Confidence in the Media and Police

Wayne David Excerpts

Wednesday 20th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

In The New York Times article of September last year it is stated:

“One former editor said Coulson talked freely”

with colleagues about phone hacking. Given that the Prime Minister has read the article, how can he say he had no new evidence of a link between Coulson and hacking?

[The Prime Minister]

I discussed these allegations at the time and there was no proper foundation for them. That is not just my view, but the view of many people who followed the issue. Of course, there is an investigation under way. I could not have been franker. If it turns out that Andy Coulson knew about hacking, it will not just be a matter of profound regret and of profound apology—an apology that I have given today. It will also be an issue for criminal prosecution.