Post date: Sep 06, 2010 7:2:57 PM
UK Home Secretary Theresa May says the government will await the outcome of police investigations into any new evidence against Andy Coulson, following allegations published in the New York Times that the Downing Street communications chief knew of illegal phone hacking at the News of the World newspaper when he was its editor.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 6, 2010) PARBUL - UK Home Secretary Theresa May on Monday (September 6) told parliament that the Metropolitan Police would investigate any fresh evidence relating to allegations Downing Street's communications chief Andy Coulson knew of telephone hacking when he was tabloid News of the World editor.
"There have been a number of allegations made in the New York Times. If fresh evidence is brought forward in relation to this matter then the Metropolitan Police have made it clear that they will investigate it," she told parliamentarians.
May said the government would "await any outcome".
The Home Secretary was responding to an urgent question in parliament.
Coulson has denied the allegations that he knew of allegedly widespread illegal eavesdropping at the tabloid News of the World when he was its editor.
He has said he would be happy to speak to London police if they wanted to pursue the allegations.
In 2007, Clive Goodman, who reported on the royal family for the News of the World, was jailed for four months after writing stories based on information from a private detective who had illegally accessed the voicemail messages of palace aides.
Coulson said at the time that he had not known of the practice but resigned his editorship, before joining then Tory leader David Cameron as communications boss in 2007 and moved with him into the prime minister's office at No 10 Downing Street.
The New York Times reported on the illegal phone hacking last week. Since then, former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare has said in a BBC interview that Coulson knew of it.
Cameron has backed Coulson over the issue.
Critics of Cameron, who took power in May, are questioning his judgement in appointing Coulson to such a sensitive post.