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Despite it all, they still miss Andy

Downing Street's embarrassment is diminished by nostalgia for Coulson's skill as a spinner.

By Rafael Behr Published 31 May 2012 8:31

The default response to news of Andy Coulson's arrest in political commentary and analysis is that it must be a blow to Downing Street and terribly embarrassing for the Prime Minister. Of course it must, up to a point. “PM’s former aide charged with perjury” is never a welcome headline for a government – especially when the aide in question was running Number 10’s communications operation at the time of the alleged offence. First, of course, it must be remembered that Coulson, like anyone else, is entitled to be presumed innocent. Complete vindication is possible.

More to the point, however, I don’t detect much embarrassment or awkwardness around this issue emanating from the centre of government. The assumption, especially among those on the Labour side who plainly want to see Cameron damaged, is that the Tories must be tearing out their hair wondering how on earth the former editor of the News of the World ever found his way into such an important and sensitive role. The appointment is routinely held up as an error of judgment by the PM. Some Tory MPs feel that way but it is not, in my experience, the dominant view.

On the contrary, the strongest sentiment there seems to be towards Coulson around Downing Street is a profound and enduring sense of loss given how effective he was at his job (before, that is, he was forced to resign from it). Top Tories watched Coulson’s testimony before the Leveson inquiry with fond admiration and remembered why he was so effective: the dry humour, the discipline, the calm control. He was valued for his temperament and his news judgement.

It is hard, for many in Downing Street, to avoid noting the contrast with Coulson’s successor, Craig Oliver who has presided over a less felicitous phase in the government communications, otherwise known as “the omnishambles”. In fairness (and many in government leap to his defence) Oliver cannot be blamed for the bodged budget and other policy problems. A communications director can only work with the material he is given. Oliver’s approach was captured on camera earlier this week – he is seen nagging BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith about the Corporation’s coverage of the Leveson inquiry. There is nothing too unusual or intemperate about the exchange. But it is damaging because it shows the man who is supposed to be in control of the message whining about the extent to which he is not in control. It would never, goes the Number 10 whisper, have happened to Coulson.

So of course it is bad. Arrests, court appearances, police officers marching a former member of the PM’s inner circle off for questioning – that is never good. But despite it all, the prevailing feeling around Downing Street is still not anger or shame at the long harbouring of Coulson as a liability, but sorrow at his loss as an asset.

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Tags: Andy Coulson Conservatives Phone hacking scandal

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11 comments

Fri, 2012-07-20 11:26 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
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Thu, 2012-07-05 22:48 — ahmadnasr89

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Sun, 2012-06-03 03:47 — Mobile Detail (not verified)

Very interesting article. I enjoyed the read!

Sat, 2012-06-02 13:57 — brokeken_cage (not verified)

At the end of the day, completely irrelevant whether or not the conservatives admired him. he maintained a corrupting influence within government as all spin doctors do. but the sheer level of complicity and criminality was to such a degree that the wieght of this ended his career both at news international and government.

Fri, 2012-06-01 21:38 — Silican (not verified)

The papers have it that he was Osborne's man. Maybe Coulson's payback to Osborne was the cocaine and domanatrix party picture and story becoming suddenly unsaleable, absent from our typically peurile press and being replaced by stories trashing the 'lady of the night' who was selling the story and pictures. Obviously a much more interesting tale. A pretty persuasive bargaining chip, I would have thought. Osborne took no legal action regarding the story but this must be because he couln't afford a lawyer, poor chap.

Thu, 2012-05-31 13:12 — Vince Justin Marce (not verified)

This Tory Led Coalition that was built on the foundations of deceit and lies will always miss a con man that is able to efficiently poison the minds of the electorate with total lies.

It is also clear that Culson was the link that allowed the Tories to access a dark and sinister side that would/could be very helpful to their needs in many ways.

This Tory Led Coalition is running this country in the same way as you would expect a mafia organisation to run it's rackets. There is next to no difference.

Thu, 2012-05-31 09:59 — Barrie J (not verified)

"You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time................................
The foremost part of that quote may still hold true but thirty years of disingenous politicians and their 'spinning' familiars have irrevocably damaged how they are perceived by the public and I am not convinced you can any longer 'fool all of the people.....'.
They have operated by hiding the truth and relying on obfuscation and what most honest people would call lying.
In turn, the public perception is of a body of corrupt, self serving, parasites, whose first position is to lie and should that fail, tell a bigger lie.
The very idea of a Committee on Standards in Public Life is beyond a joke, as can be clearly shown by their guiding principles laid out below.
Compare the behaviour of some Cabinet Ministers, past and present.

They are:
Selflessness – Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity – Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity – In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability – Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness – Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty – Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership – Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

What a sick joke.

Thu, 2012-05-31 09:44 — Shinsei67

Always strikes me as odd when people ask why Cameron was so keen on Coulson ?

He was clearly very good at an important, difficult, and somewhat unseemly (albeit necessary) job.

And he evidently didn't think he would be prosecuted for perjury or anything else. Cameron may have been unduly trusting in Coulson's word but he isn't stupid.

Thu, 2012-05-31 10:08 — Barrie J (not verified)

.................and why did Coulson continue to be paid by his previous employer whilst working at No10?

I've worked in Fleet Street, I've seen people given 'Golden Hellos' and 'Golden Goodbyes' (very rarely), I've seen people 'paid off', or told to keep the company car and I've seen people been given a cheque and escorted off the premises by a security guard.

I've never known anybody to leave to work for another organisation and continue to be paid by the last one. Curious.

Thu, 2012-05-31 10:28 — Shinsei67

Curious indeed. I've no idea about the details.

But why should it necessarily be suspicious ? As you say plenty of senior media folk get given golden goodbyes. Why pay Coulson rather than just give him a 100k golden goodbye. It's not as if NI doesn't have the money.