Although it is well concealed, there must be serious vexation at the Guardian that it was the BBC's Robert Peston, and not them, who exposed how Andy Coulson continued to receive cash payments from News International after his resignation and up to the end of 2007. He took up post as the Conservative party’s director of communications in July that year.
Tory party sources insist they had no knowledge of these payments and have checked with official involved in hiring him the former News of the World editor.
The paper states that “rumours of a financial relationship between Coulson and News International have circulated for some time”. However it was Peston who uncovered the “contractual arrangements” and is said to have learned a few more things that have been deemed possibly too risky for publication (as yet).
They add that, prior to him standing down as director of communications in January this year, party officials had asked the spin-meister directly whether he had received payments from News International during the period he had worked for them. They stated that they had received "categorical" assurances that this was not the case.
News International are less keen to hang Coulson out to dry and will only state that the company does “not comment on the financial arrangements of any individual".
We give it 24 hours before the Select Committees start circling.
3 Comments:
More interesting is 'why' it was Robert Peston that broke this story.
Our Robert has much to tell us of his own relationship with those in senior positions at News International.
'We give it 24 hours before the Select Committees start circling.'
Time is up. Any news?
CMS and Home Affairs Committees both looking to invite James Murdoch and anyone from Harbottle & Lewis for "further questioning". Keith Vaz is reported to have hinted that Mulcaire will attend if he can be guaranteed immunity from further prosecution. No such protection available to witnesses.
Post a Comment