Andy Coulson
| Andy Coulson | |
|---|---|
| Downing Street Director of Communications | |
| In office 11 May 2010 – 21 January 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Succeeded by | Craig Oliver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Edward Coulson 21 January 1968 Billericay, Essex, England, UK |
| Spouse(s) | Eloise Patrick (m. December 2000–present)[citation needed] |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Journalist, newspaper editor |
Andrew Edward Coulson (born 21 January 1968[1][2]) is an English journalist and political strategist.
Coulson was the editor of the News of the World from 2003 until his resignation in 2007, following the conviction of one of the newspaper's reporters in relation to illegal phone-hacking.
He subsequently joined David Cameron's personnel as communications director, until announcing his departure on 21 January 2011 because of continued media coverage of the phone-hacking affair.[3][4] He was replaced on 2 February 2011 by former BBC Global News Controller of English Craig Oliver.[5] Coulson was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Service on 8 July 2011 "in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking".[6]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Coulson grew up in Wickford, Essex. He attended Beauchamps High School, a secondary school and sixth form college, from 1979 to 1986. Coulson's parents moved from their Basildon council house to nearby Wickford during his childhood.[1]
[edit] Career
Coulson started work at 18 as a junior reporter on the Basildon Echo in 1986. In 1988, he moved to The Sun, working with Piers Morgan on the Bizarre column and subsequently hiring current Sun editor Dominic Mohan. In 1994, he briefly moved to the Daily Mail, but after nine weeks moved back to The Sun to edit Bizarre. He set up the website page3.com, which was the first of News International's websites to make a profit. In 2001, in the run up to the general election, he asked Tony and Cherie Blair whether they were members of the mile high club. He became deputy editor of the News of the World in 2000.[7]
[edit] News of the World editor (2003–2007)
Coulson replaced Rebekah Wade as editor in 2003. In an interview with the Press Gazette in 2005, he said that "Tabloid newspapers in this country do more for its people than any other newspapers in the world".[7]
Coulson resigned on 26 January 2007 over the News of the World phone hacking affair which would several weeks later see the jailing for four months of the paper's Royal correspondent Clive Goodman. Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, remunerated by the newspaper, was given a custodial sentence of six months.[8]
On 21 July 2009 Coulson appeared in front of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and denied any knowledge of the phone hacking scandal, saying "my instructions to the staff were clear – we did not use subterfuge of any kind unless there was a clear public interest in doing so. They were to work within the PCC code at all times".[9]
In 2008 an employment tribunal upheld a claim of bullying by Coulson whilst he was at the News of The World. A Stratford employment tribunal upheld a claim of unfair dismissal claimed by senior sports writer Matt Driscoll, and stated "We find the behaviour to have been a consistent pattern of bullying behaviour".[10] The judgement singled out Coulson for making "bullying" remarks in an email to Driscoll. The paper was told to pay Driscoll £800,000.[11]
[edit] Conservative Party communications director (2007–2010)
Coulson became the Conservative Party's director of communications on 9 July 2007. Various media stories estimated his salary at between £275,000[12] and £475,000; the party indicated the latter figure was "inaccurate" and that his salary was "substantially less" but refused to provide an exact figure.[13] In July 2011 the Mail on Sunday alleged that Cameron had been about to appoint the BBC's Guto Harri, but was persuaded by Rebekah Wade to appoint Coulson. The paper quoted "an individual intimately involved in Mr Coulson's recruitment" as saying "Rebekah indicated the job should go to Andy. Cameron was told it should be someone acceptable to News International. The company was also desperate to find something for Andy after he took the rap when the phone hacking first became an issue. The approach was along the lines of, 'If you find something for Andy we will return the favour'."[14]
[edit] Director of Communications for the Prime Minister
After David Cameron became Prime Minister in May 2010, he appointed Coulson as Director of Communications for the government at 10 Downing Street. His pay was £140,000, the highest paid special advisor.[15]
Coulson announced his resignation on 21 January 2011. He commented about the News of the World allegations "I stand by what I've said about those events but when the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on."[16][17]
In July 2011 questions were raised about Coulson's security vetting at Number Ten. He had not been subjected to the highest level of vetting, "developed vetting", allowing unrestricted access to Top Secret material. His predecessors had had the highest level of vetting, as did his successor and (after his departure) his deputy. The Guardian said that the disclosure "is understood to have 'absolutely shocked' some Whitehall information staff."[18] According to Chris Bryant MP, senior officials working with Coulson believed that he had the same clearance level as his predecessor.[19] Coulson continued to be an embarrassment to Cameron as it emerged that he was still being paid by News International while working for the then opposition leader.[20]
[edit] Private Consultancy
On the 7 February 2011, Coulson and his wife established 'Elbrus Consultants Ltd' (UK Company Number 07519035). The purpose of the company is not recorded by Companies House, but is reportedly a PR agency.[21] Clients include 'One Young World'.[22] Kate Roberston of One Young World told the Guardian "He can't do One Young World work at the moment, that is absolutely clear".[23]
[edit] Renewed allegations on phone hacking
As the Conservative Party's director of communications, Coulson continued to be subjected to allegations that he was aware of the hacking of phones while serving as the editor of News of the World. On 7 July 2009, John Prescott called on leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron to remove Coulson from his position, after The Guardian revealed further details about phone-hacking by the News of the World.[24] Cameron, though, defended Coulson on the morning of 9 July: "I believe in giving people a second chance. As director of communications for the Conservatives he does an excellent job in a proper, upright way at all times."[25]
On 1 September 2010 The New York Times printed new allegations from former News of the World reporters alleging that Coulson had "actively encouraged" reporters to illegally intercept voicemail messages, and that he "was present during discussions about phone hacking".[26] Coulson has denied these latest claims.[27] Sean Hoare, – showbusiness reporter at News of the World during Coulson's reign – speaking on Five Live, who accused Coulson of lying, has said that indeed Coulson did not ask him to phone hack but veiled his request in "metaphorical language" and asked him to practice his "dark arts".[28] And Clive Goodman, in a letter from 2007: "The practice was widely discussed in the daily editorial conference, until explicit reference to it was banned by the editor."[29]
A report aired on Channel 4's Dispatches in October included remarks made by an unnamed source, said to have been a former senior journalist at the News of the World who worked alongside Coulson. The source alleged that Coulson had personally listened to messages obtained through phone hacking.[30][31]
He was a witness in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan, where he denied under oath that he had any knowledge of phone hacking at the News of the World, or that he knew Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective at the centre of controversy.[32]
However, the Crown Prosecution Service said in December 2010 that it had determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge Coulson over allegations that he was aware of phone-hacking at the publication. The CPS said that witnesses interviewed by Metropolitan Police – including those who had previously made allegations through media outlets – had not been willing to provide admissible evidence.[33]
The Guardian reported on 7 July 2011 that Coulson was to be arrested the following day, along with a senior journalist whom the paper refused to name.[34]
Coulson was arrested at Scotland Yard at 10:30 am on 8 July 2011.[35] He was questioned under caution, and later that day released on police bail until October, but made no comment on his release.[36]
[edit] Personal life
Coulson married Eloise Patrick; they have two children and live in Forest Hill, South London.[1] He follows Tottenham Hotspur.[37]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Adams, Guy (2 June 2007). "Andy Coulson: Blue-eyed boy". The Independent (UK). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/andy-coulson-blueeyed-boy-451358.html. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Robinson, James (3 June 2010). "The Tories bring on new spinner". The Observer (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/jun/03/pressandpublishing.marketingandpr. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- ^ "Coulson resigns due to phone-hacking scandal". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 21 January 2011. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/01/21/uk-coulson-resigns-due-to-phone-hacking-scandal. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ^ "Coulson Quits No 10 Over Phone-Hack Pressure". Sky News. 21 January 2011. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Andy-Coulson-Resigns-Downing-Street-Say/Article/201101315902865?lpos=Politics_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15902865_Andy_Coulson_Resigns%2C_Downing_Street_Say. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ^ "BBC's Craig Oliver replacing Andy Coulson at No 10". BBC News. 2 February 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12348159.
- ^ Siddique, Haroon; Gabbatt, Adam; Quinn, Ben (8 July 2011). "News of the World phone-hacking scandal – live updates". guardian.co.uk (London: Guardian News and Media Ltd). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/08/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking-scandal#block-25. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ a b Gibson, Owen (29 April 2005). "The Guardian profile: Andy Coulson". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/apr/29/newsoftheworld.pressandpublishing.
- ^ "Pair jailed over royal phone taps", BBC News, 26 January 2007
- ^ BBC, 21 July 2009, Coulson 'didn't condone hacking'
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (18 December 2008). "Ex-editor Andy Coulson bullied News of the World reporter, rules tribunal". London: guardian online. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/18/andy-coulson-bullied-news-of-the-world-reporter. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ The Guardian, 23 November 2009, News of the World faces £800,000 payout in bullying case
- ^ Hope, Christopher (10 June 2010). "Andy Coulson takes £135,000 pay cut to join Coalition". The Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7818326/Andy-Coulson-takes-135000-pay-cut-to-join-Coalition-but-is-paid-more-than-Nick-Clegg.html. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Helm, Toby (2 June 2007). "'£475,000 Coulson' row adds to woes". The Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1553387/475000-Coulson-row-adds-to-woes.html. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Mail on Sunday, 17 July 2011, Rebekah vetoed BBC man and told Cameron he should give No10 job to Andy Coulson
- ^ "David Cameron's PR director Andy Coulson paid £140,000". The BBC. 10 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10285825.stm. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ Coulson Resigns From Downing Street Job 21 January 2011
- ^ "Andy Coulson quits Downing Street communications role". The BBC. 21 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12251456. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ^ The Guardian, 22 July 2011, Pressure mounts on David Cameron over Andy Coulson's security level
- ^ The Observer, 24 July 2011, Fears over Andy Coulson's clearance as officials admit: We thought he had been vetted
- ^ Robinson, James; Curtis, Polly (23 August 2011). "Andy Coulson reportedly paid by News International when hired by Tories". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/23/andy-coulson-news-international-tories.
- ^ Cartmell, Matt (8 April 2011). "Andy Coulson could remain 'the story' for Elbrus Consultants' clients, expert warns". PRWeek (London). http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1064713/Andy-Coulson-remain-the-story-Elbrus-Consultants-clients-expert-warns/.
- ^ "Andy Coulson’s new PR business Elbrus Consultants under pressure". Marketing Magazine (London). 11 July 2011. http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1079302/Andy-Coulsons-new-PR-business-Elbrus-Consultants-pressure/.
- ^ Helm, Toby; Boffey, Daniel (9 July 2011). "Phone hacking: I warned No 10 over Coulson appointment, says Ashdown". Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/09/phone-hacking-andy-coulson-paddy-ashdown.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (8 July 2009). "David Cameron urged to sack Tory spin doctor Andy Coulson". London: guardian online. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/08/andy-coulson-phone-hacking-cameron. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ James Robinson and Andrew Sparrow "News of the World phone hacking – Andy Coulson may be grilled by MPs", The Guardian, 9 July 2009.
- ^ Don Van Natta Jr., et al "Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and Beyond", New York Times, 1 September 2010.
- ^ Haroon Siddique "Phone hacking claims: John Prescott calls for police conduct inquiry", The Guardian, 3 September 2010.
- ^ Hoare speaking on Five Live, Drive, 3 September 2010. Hoare was found dead at home on 18 July 2011.
- ^ [1] The Independent, 16 August 2011
- ^ Davies, Nick (3 October 2010). "Phone-hacking scandal: Andy Coulson 'listened to intercepted messages'". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/03/phone-hacking-scandal-andy-coulson. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ "Andy Coulson listened to hacked messages, former colleague says". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 4 October 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/10/04/uk-andy-coulson-listened-to-hacked-messages-former-colleague-says. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ The Guardian article on Coulson in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan. Accessed 21 January 2011
- ^ "Coulson won’t be prosecuted over phone-hacking". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 11 December 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/11/uk-coulson-wont-be-prosecuted-over-phone-hacking. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ^ Hill, Amelia (7 July 2011). "Andy Coulson to be arrested over phone hacking tomorrow". The Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/07/andy-coulson-arrest-phone-hacking. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Coulson And Goodman Released In NOTW Probe". 8 July 2011. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/News-Of-The-World-Andy-Coulson-Former-Editor-Arrested-By-Police-Investigating-Phone-Hacking/Article/201107216026496?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_1&lid=ARTICLE_16026496_News_Of_The_World%3A_Andy_Coulson%2C_Former_Editor%2C_Arrested_By_Police_Investigating_Phone_Hacking. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ Hughes, Mark (8 July 2011). "News of the World phone hacking: Andy Coulson arrested and his computer seized". The Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8627018/News-of-the-World-phone-hacking-Andy-Coulson-arrested-and-his-computer-seized.html. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Profile: Andy Coulson". BBC News (BBC). 8 July 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11204150. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
[edit] External links
- Andy Coulson collected news and commentary at The Guardian
- Profile: Andy Coulson, BBC News, 8 July 2011
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul Connew |
Deputy Editor of the News of the World 2000–2003 |
Succeeded by Neil Wallis |
| Preceded by Rebekah Wade |
Editor of the News of the World 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Colin Myler |
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