The Downing Street communications chief, Andy Coulson, told police today that he would be happy to meet them voluntarily to discuss fresh phone-hacking allegations, as Scotland Yard said it was considering whether to reopen the investigation.John Yates, the assistant Metropolitan police commissioner, said detectives were studying new allegations published by the New York Times last week.Coulson, who is David Cameron's PR chief, has denied claims in the New York Times that he freely discussed the use of unlawful news-gathering techniques when he was editor of the News of the World. He responded today by saying he was willing to meet police to discuss the allegations.
The Downing Street communications chief, Andy Coulson, told police today that he would be happy to meet them voluntarily to discuss fresh phone-hacking allegations, as Scotland Yard said it was considering whether to reopen the investigation.
John Yates, the assistant Metropolitan police commissioner, said detectives were studying new allegations published by the New York Times last week.
Coulson, who is David Cameron's PR chief, has denied claims in the New York Times that he freely discussed the use of unlawful news-gathering techniques when he was editor of the News of the World. He responded today by saying he was willing to meet police to discuss the allegations.
The Home Office abandoned plans to establish an independent inquiry into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal last year after a senior official warned that the Metropolitan police would "deeply resent" any interference in their investigation, according to a leaked government document.As Alan Johnson came close today to accusing Scotland Yard of having misled him over the scandal, a leaked Home Office memo shows that the last government decided against calling in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary after intense internal lobbying.Stephen Rimmer, the Home Office director general for crime and policing, warned that Scotland Yard would "deeply resent" a review of its investigation by the inspectorate and that it would send a message that "we do not have full confidence" in the Met.
The Home Office abandoned plans to establish an independent inquiry into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal last year after a senior official warned that the Metropolitan police would "deeply resent" any interference in their investigation, according to a leaked government document.
As Alan Johnson came close today to accusing Scotland Yard of having misled him over the scandal, a leaked Home Office memo shows that the last government decided against calling in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary after intense internal lobbying.
Stephen Rimmer, the Home Office director general for crime and policing, warned that Scotland Yard would "deeply resent" a review of its investigation by the inspectorate and that it would send a message that "we do not have full confidence" in the Met.
Now - hypothetically - if the same hacking stunt works in the US, wouldn't it be interesting if it were used by a major news organisation.
I wonder what a major news organisation might find if it had access to the voicemail accounts of senators, congress people, aides, pages, and candidates.
You know, hypothetically.
