Labour Call For Clarity Over Coulson

A Labour party MP has called for transparency from both the Prime Minister and News International after allegations emerged on Tuesday over 'severance payments' made to former editor Andy Coulson.

The BBC revealed on Tuesday morning that Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson was paid by the paper's parent company while working as the Tories' spokesman.

The allegations made today suggest that Rupert Murdoch's News International (NI) paid the Conservatives' former communications director several hundred thousand dollars and continued his access to healthcare.

Mr Coulson was arrested on suspicion of phone hacking earlier this year.

Speaking on Tuesday, Labour's Shadow Culture Secretary, Ivan Lewis MP, said the time for transparency was "long overdue" from both David Cameron and NI.

"The details of Mr Coulson’s termination agreements with News International must be published and we need to know whether these payments, in the form of honouring a two-year contract of employment after he had been forced to resign in disgrace, were declared to the parliamentary authorities."

Mr Lewis said it must be explained why Mr Coulson was getting the payments when he resigned from the News of the World and that it was also essential that Mr Cameron came clean about what role former NI Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks played in Andy Coulson’s decision to resign from Downing street.

"The longer these questions are unanswered the more damage will be done to the Prime Minister’s reputation," Mr Lewis added.

Mr Coulson was hired by the Conservative party in July 2007 for a reported salary of £275,000.

(DW)