Search: David Cameron hacking Neil Wallis Andy Coulson Jeremy Hunt
A senior Cabinet minister has defended David Cameron's handling of the News of the World phone hacking scandal as the Prime Minister prepared to face a barrage of MPs' questions over his role in the affair.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt denied that the continuing political firestorm represented the biggest crisis of Mr Cameron's premiership so far but he acknowledged that the Prime Minister needs to demonstrate he is capable of the leadership needed to sort out the crisis which has rocked politicians, police and the media.
Mr Cameron flew back to London on Tuesday, having cut short his trade mission to Africa to try to get a grip on the crisis which is now lapping at the gates of Downing Street. He will open a Commons debate on phone hacking for the Government with a statement and will answer MPs' questions, followed by the debate which can run to 7pm
The Conservatives disclosed on Tuesday that former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis had given informal advice to Andy Coulson when he was Mr Cameron's communications director in the run-up to the general election.
The role of Mr Wallis - who was arrested last week by police investigating the phone hacking allegations - was already under scrutiny after it was disclosed that he had been working for Scotland Yard as a part-time PR consultant.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Mr Hunt told Sky News: "What people will judge the Prime Minister for is 'does he show the leadership to sort out this crisis?' I think what we have seen in the last couple of weeks is that he is grappling with the problem previous prime ministers have ducked for very many years."
Labour MP Chris Bryant prompted a furious denial from Downing Street after he claimed Buckingham Palace had expressed concern over Mr Coulson's appointment as No 10 communications director.
Mr Bryant told the BBC: "Very senior people at Buckingham Palace were very troubled by the appointment of Andy Coulson and tried to make it absolutely clear to the Prime Minister. I am not sure whether this information ever got directly to the Prime Minister, but it certainly got to senior figures at Downing Street."
A No 10 source said it was a "scurrilous" allegation and "complete rubbish". The source insisted that at no point did the Palace try to warn officials at Downing Street or Mr Cameron's political team against Mr Coulson's appointment.
Buckingham Palace later issued a forthright denial of Mr Bryant's claim. A spokesman said: "On no occasion did any officials from Buckingham Palace raise concerns to Downing Street and indeed it is outrageous to suggest this."
