Andy Coulson: Difference between revisions
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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He married Eloise Patrick in December 2000 in [[Fulham]], and they have |
He married Eloise Patrick in December 2000 in [[Fulham]], and they have three sons (born June 2001 and March 2002 2009). They live in [[south London]]. He follows [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 15:13, 29 June 2010
Andy Coulson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Andrew Edward Coulson 21 January 1968 |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, Newspaper editor Director of Communications & Planning, Conservative Party |
| Notable credit(s) | Basildon Echo, The Sun, Daily Mail, News of the World |
| Spouse(s) | Eloise Patrick (m. December 2000) 2 sons |
Andrew Edward "Andy" Coulson (born 21 January 1968) is British journalist and political strategist. He is currently Director of Communications & Planning for the Conservative Party. He was editor of the tabloid newspaper the News of the World from 2003 to 2007.
Early life
He grew up in Wickford near Basildon in Essex. He attended Beauchamps Comprehensive School on Beauchamps Drive from 1979-86. Parents moved from their Basildon council house to nearby Wickford during his childhood [1].
Career
He started work at 18 on the Basildon Echo in 1986. In 1988, he moved to The Sun, working with Piers Morgan on the Bizarre column. In 1994, he briefly moved to the Daily Mail, but after nine weeks moved back to The Sun to edit Bizarre. 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 2003, then replaced Rebekah Wade as editor in 2003.
News of the World editor (2003 - 2007)
Coulson replaced Rebekah Wade as editor in 2003. He 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. Coulson’s resignation in effect prevented a thorough investigation of the Goodman affair by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), and ensured Rupert Murdoch would not have to answer difficult questions about the activities of his British newspapers at a time when he was under intense scrutiny in the US. 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".[2]
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".[3] The judgment singled out Coulson for making "bullying" remarks in an email to Driscoll. The paper was told to pay Driscoll £800,000.
Conservative Party communications director (2007 - )
Coulson became Conservative Party Director of Communications on July 9, 2007. 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.[4] 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."[5]
On June 9 2010 an article by Christina Patterson in The Independent reported that Coulson's salary was "in the region of" £475,000 when recruited. The article claimed that when Downing Street was asked to provide an exact figure it refused.[6]
On June 10 2010 Downing Street confirmed that Coulson's salary was £140,000, the highest paid special adviser to UK Government.[7]
Personal life
He married Eloise Patrick in December 2000 in Fulham, and they have three sons (born June 2001 and March 2002 2009). They live in south London. He follows Tottenham Hotspur.
References
- ^ Adams, Guy (2 June 2007). "Andy Coulson: Blue-eyed boy". London: The Independent. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ BBC, 21 July 2009, Coulson 'didn't condone hacking'
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (2008-12-18). "Ex-editor Andy Coulson bullied News of the World reporter, rules tribunal". London: guardian online. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (8 July 2009). "David Cameron urged to sack Tory spin doctor Andy Coulson". London: guardian online. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ James Robinson and Andrew Sparrow "News of the World phone hacking – Andy Coulson may be grilled by MPs", The Guardian, 9 July 2009
- ^ Patterson, Christina (9 June 2010). "Here's one saving right in Downing St". London: Independent online. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
- ^ "David Cameron's PR director Andy Coulson paid £140,000". The BBC. June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.