The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Coulson's troubles grow

A new criminal investigation is launched into whether Coulson committed perjury at the Sheridan tria

By George Eaton Published 23 July 2011 13:08

Earlier this month I speculated that Andy Coulson could eventually be charged with perjury. During Tommy Sheridan's trial last December, Coulson was memorably asked by Sheridan (who acted as his own counsel): "did the News of the World pay corrupt police officers?" He replied: "Not to my knowledge."

But since then, News International has passed emails to Scotland Yard allegedly showing that Coulson authorised payments to police officers in return for help with stories. Then there's the fact, as I've previously noted, that he admitted to the media select committee in 2003 that payments had been made, although he insisted they were "within the law".

Whatever the truth, Cameron's former director of communications is now under investigation by Strathclyde police for allegedly committing perjury. As well as denying that he had any knowledge of payments to the police, Coulson also told the court that he was unaware of illegal phone hacking by reporters.

Strathclyde police's assistant chief constable, George Hamilton, said: "Following our discussions with the crown, we have now been instructed to carry out a full investigation into allegations that witnesses gave perjured evidence in the trial of Tommy Sheridan and into alleged breaches of data protection and phone hacking.

"We will also be looking to see if we can uncover any evidence of corruption in the police service or any other organisation related to these inquiries.

Coulson is already the subject of two separate criminal investigations into allegations that he knew of phone hacking while editor of the NoW and that he authorised bribes to police officers. In his Commons statement earlier this week, Cameron alluded the possibility that Coulson could be charged with perjury.

He told the House: "I have said very clearly that if it turns out Andy Coulson knew about the hacking at the News of the World, he will not only have lied to me but he will have lied to the police, to a select committee, to the Press Complaints Commission and, of course, perjured himself in a court of law." Coulson was still working for Cameron when he appeared at the Sheridan trial.

Incidentally, Charles Moore's thoughtful and self-critical column in today's Telegraph ("I'm starting to think that the Left might actually be right") offers an important corrective to those who mourned the death of the "world's greatest investigative newspaper". Of the News of the World, he writes: "In its stupidity, narrowness and cruelty, and in its methods, the paper was a disgrace to the free press."

Tags: Phone hacking scandal Andy Coulson

More from George Eaton

View the discussion thread.

16 comments

Sun, 2011-07-24 12:28 — john henry (not verified)

Looks like Coulson is a gonner and heading for the Nick.

I hope he spills his guts and tells the whole story of the NI/Tory connection re BSB

Sat, 2011-07-23 14:53 — Lou (not verified)

Coulson seems to be a common denominator in a variety of ways but I don't think we should believe for one minute that this was just one paper, a couple of rogue reporters and one dodgy editor in the form of Coulson, it's too easy for him to be made the fall guy for everything like Mulcaire and Goodman were years ago.

Sheridan is on home leave this weekend, he should not have to go back. There is clearly enough grounds to release him pending either a retrial or a quashing of conviction.

I listened to George Galloway's radio show last night, he was presented with more information this week on his own case against NI and he said it was unbelievable but obviously he can't comment further pending a court case.

I would like to know just how far back this hacking goes, is it to the late 90s, was Diana hacked and hounded, what about David Kelly and anything Iraq war related? What other politicians were hacked whilst in Government? What exactly could possibly be 'even worse' than the hacking of dead people, missing children's phones

Re Charles Moore's column, I thought it was a good piece on the whole though still written with a centre right take on the left. I disagreed on his unions and Wapping sections and I think he over simplified that in a very much right of centre response but on the whole it was refreshing to see someone be so honest and question all he had previously thought about the arguments of the Left.

Sat, 2011-07-23 15:00 — Thirsty Lewis HMP (not verified)

"The Right has done itself harm by covering up for so much brutality."

Indeed. Now people in this country need to be educated to such truths. Well done Mr Moore, what a wonderful conversion!

Sat, 2011-07-23 15:33 — andyg (not verified)

The crowds should now be back on the streets shouting free Tommy Sheridan.
Let's see if our impartial news covers the Sheridan case again and reminds the general public just what a lying bastard coulson is and what length's he will go too to see an innocemt man go to jail.

Sat, 2011-07-23 15:49 — qigeairen

==== http://www.doestrade.com ====
==== http://www.doestrade.com ====
==== http://www.doestrade.com ====

Sat, 2011-07-23 15:56 — hugh markey (not verified)

The Tower of London will be back in action soon. As per tradition, Coulson will not merit a sword for the beheading; the axe will suffice for the commoner who rose above his station. Remember the pitiless pranks the aristos got up to at Cromwell's execution. What a 'rag' week that was!

Social Climber

Sat, 2011-07-23 16:13 — andyg (not verified)

Sheridan's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, has stated: "Over two weeks ago we provided a detailed dossier of allegations of perjury, phone hacking and breach of data to Strathclyde police and called for a robust and thorough investigation.

Over £2m was spent by police on investigating Mr and Mrs Sheridan and their family and we were told it was in the public interest. I expect now to see a similar ruthlessness and determination in dealing with the News of the World."

Well said Aamer.
@ hugh Markey
Beheading is too quick a death for coulson. Let him rot in the Scottish prison system. The NS can give us an update on how the inmates have welcomed their new English friend.

Sun, 2011-07-24 18:37 — matthew fox (not verified)

Being done for perjury is the least of his worries.

Police corruption is serious jail time, and Coulson must be sweating, NI have made him to be a tethered goat.

Sat, 2011-07-23 16:55 — goodluck3552

Wonderful.

Share a website with you ,

put this url in google sirch

( http://www.chic-goods.com/ )

Believe you will love it.

We accept any form of payment.

Sat, 2011-07-23 17:09 — moremorely

=== http://www.voguecatch.com

===（ http://www.voguecatch.com ）

===（ http://www.voguecatch.com ）===

===（http://www.voguecatch.com）===

===（ http://www.voguecatch.com ）===

===（ http://www.voguecatch.com）===

===（ http://www.voguecatch.com ）===

Sat, 2011-07-23 17:47 — gdudsuih (not verified)

http://www.proxy4biz.com

http://www.proxy4biz.com
===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

===（http://www.proxy4biz.com）===

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com）===

===（http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

Sat, 2011-07-23 23:35 — madasbalooons (not verified)

Coulson isn't very clever,is he?

Fri, 2011-07-29 12:30 — John Rennie (not verified)

"Of the News of the World, he writes: "In its stupidity, narrowness and cruelty, and in its methods, the paper was a disgrace to the free press." It was like that long before Murdoch purchased it. Way back in National Service days it was called Picaddily POR's (Personal Occurrence Reports)

Mon, 2011-07-25 10:53 — Pat (not verified)

@Hugh

Cromwell wasn't executed - he died in his bed. They DID dig him up and "behead" him after the restoration, though.

Sun, 2011-07-24 03:49 — meimeiee

http://www.proxy4biz.com

http://www.proxy4biz.com
===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

===（http://www.proxy4biz.com）===

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com）===

===（http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

===（ http://www.proxy4biz.com ）===

Sun, 2011-07-24 10:52 — swatantra

Even Coulsons stauch friends, like Cameron, are deserting him. So it appears that Coulsons days are numberedand he's been left out to hang and dry.
The only shame about the whole NoTW affair is that some of the good that the NoTW did in exposing the hypocracies of the private lifes of some people in high places will be forgotten: their foibles and excesses needed to be exposed. Lets hope that they will still not be able to hide behind 'privacy'.
And its a disgrace that some are suing the NoTW and NI. It was in the Public interest that the truth be known.
Its just a pity that the NoTW forgot that the means do not justify the ends, especially criminal means, and thats what brought about its downfall.