Member News
By Ned Simons - 21st January 2011
Andy Coulson has resigned as Downing Street communications director, having decided that "when a spokesman needs a spokesman" it was time to quit.
Coulson resigned from the newspaper in 2007 after its royal correspondent was jailed for phone tapping and he has been constantly dogged by the scandal since moving into No.10.
In a statement issued this afternoon Coulson said the ongoing row over phone hacking at his former paper made it impossible for him to give the "110 per cent needed" in his current role.
He said that while he stood by what he has said about the events at the News of the World it was proving a distraction.
"When the spokesman needs a spokesman its time to move on," he said.
And he said it had been a "privilege and an honour to work for David Cameron for three and half years" and was "extremely proud" of the part he played in helping him reach No. 10.
Reacting to his departure Cameron said he was "very sorry" to lose Coulson but said he understood the "continuing pressures on him and his family".
Just last week David Cameron defended his chief spin doctor, telling the BBC's Today programme that he was doing a "good job"
But when asked, the prime minister refused to confirm or deny a rumour that Coulson had offered his resignation, telling the BBC that he would not "go into private conversations".
Cameron said Coulson was doing a "very good job" after being given a "second chance" in Downing Street following his resignation as editor of the tabloid.
"Obviously when he was at the News of the World bad things happened at that newspaper, and when he found out he resigned," he said.
On Tuesday Attorney General Domonic Grieve told the Commons that a "comprehensive assessment" of the evidence in the case has been launched by the Met police "following developments in the civil courts".
Grieve said Met deputy commissioner Yates has written to the DPP expressing his clear wish to re-examine all the evidence in this matter and then seek the advice of CPS.
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