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Coulson Guilty

Coulson guilty: Cameron apologises but Miliband declares government 'tainted'

Andy Coulson, David Cameron's former head of communications, has been found guilty of phone-hacking

David Cameron has apologised after his former spin doctor Andy Coulson was found guilty of phone-hacking - but Ed Miliband has declared the entire government is "tainted" by the verdict.
Coulson, who served as Cameron's director of communications, was convicted of conspiracy to intercept messages this lunchtime in a long-anticipated verdict which has finally rocked Westminster.


The prime minister said he was "extremely sorry" in a brief clip recorded inside Downing Street - away from the floor of the Commons chamber where he made the pledge to apologise three years ago.
Cameron said he had hired Coulson into a publicly-funded job while in opposition "on the basis of undertakings I was given by him" that he was not involved in illegal activity.
Following today's verdict, which saw Coulson convicted of conspiracy to intercept messages, the prime minister accepted he had made a mistake.
"I always said if they turned out to be wrong I would make a full and frank apology and I do that today," the PM said.
"I'm extremely sorry I employed him, it was the wrong decision, and I'm very clear about that."
Cameron repeatedly pointed out no-one had complained about Coulson's work for Cameron either as leader of the opposition or in No 10, before adding: "I gave him a job, it was a second chance, it turned out to be a bad decision."
The opposition is not prepared to accept Cameron's apology, however.

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