How to control the superficially powerful

[Jan Klimkowski]

Tory leader David Cameron's Head of Propaganda, aka chief spin doctor, reflects on the involvement of the newspaper he edited in using private investigators to hack into the phones of politicians, celebrities, other spin doctors, etc:

My emphasis.

Coulson 'didn't condone hacking'

Conservative communications chief Andy Coulson has told MPs he did not "condone or use" phone hacking when he was editor of the News of the World.

Mr Coulson quit as the editor after a reporter was jailed for hacking.

Although he said he had not known about it, he told the culture committee he regretted things going "badly wrong" and had taken responsibility by going.

(snip)

He went on: "I gave the reporters freedom as professional journalists to make their own judgments and I also gave them plenty of resources.

"We spent money in pursuit of stories at the News of the World, more money than most newspapers, and I make no secret of the fact."

He added: "Things went badly wrong under my editorship of the News of the World.

"I deeply regret it. I suspect I always will. I take the blame because ultimately it was my responsibility. I am not looking for sympathy and I am unlikely to get any today.

"But when I resigned I gave up a 20 year career with News International and in the process everything I worked towards from the age of 18. But I think it's right that when people make mistakes, they take responsibility and that is why I resigned."

Job 'safe'

He said he had not "micro-managed" every story but he accepted financial controls at the newspaper could have been tighter during his time as editor.

He said he reacted to the news of Royal reporter Clive Goodman's arrest with "surprise and anger"

But he added: "If a rogue reporter decides to behave in that fashion, I am not sure there is an awful lot more I could have done."

He said stories about phone hacking had been "in the ether" during his 20 year career as a journalist but he had never been involved in such activities.

He also said he had not commissioned and had no knowledge of any story about Gordon Taylor, head of the Professional Footballers' Association, who received a £700,000 out-of-court payment from News International over phone tapping allegations.

He said he had first learned about the Taylor litigation "when I read about in The Guardian".

'Judge and jury'

Quizzed about his role as Tory leader David Cameron's communications chief, he told the committee: "I have done my best to work in as upright and as proper a fashion as I possibly can" but said ultimately it was "for others to judge".

Asked about his relations with Buckingham Palace, he said: "There is no problem my end."

Speaking after the hearing, a Tory spokeswoman said: "There is no doubt about David Cameron's confidence in Andy Coulson. Andy Coulson's job is safe."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8160433.stm

The UK has incredibly restrictive libel laws.

Therefore my on the record response to Coulson is:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: