David Cameron out of Africa - and into lions' den

Published on Monday 18 July 2011 20:33

THE pressure is mounting on David Cameron in the fast-developing phone hacking scandal, as he yesterday cut short an official visit to Africa to deal with the crisis.

The Prime Minister was facing Commons calls to "consider his position", with his Liberal Democrat deputy, Nick Clegg, forced to defend him against calls to quit.

Mr Cameron will arrive back in the UK tonight, instead of early tomorrow as planned.

He faces a rough ride from MPs in the Commons tomorrow when he will deliver a statement on the hacking controversy, but insisted yesterday: "I have taken decisive action."

The resignation of Met assistant commissioner John Yates yesterday, after the departure of the commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, at the weekend, has cranked up the pressure on Mr Cameron.

Both senior police officers quit amid controversy over the role of former News of the World assistant editor Neil Wallis with the Met.

The former journalist had been taken on by the force to provide media advice, but was arrested earlier in the week as part of the force's own investigation into the hacking row.

Sir Paul suggested that employing the former News of the World executive as an adviser was less controversial than the Prime Minister's hiring of the paper's editor Andy Coulson as his media adviser.

But Mr Cameron said yesterday: "The situation in the Metropolitan Police Service is really quite different to the situation in the government, not least because the issues that the Metropolitan Police are looking at, the issues around them, have had a direct bearing on public confidence into the police inquiry into the News of the World, and indeed into the police themselves.

"For my part, what I would say is that we have taken very decisive action. We have set up a judicial inquiry that can look at all aspects of these issues.

"We have helped to ensure a large and properly resourced police investigation that can get to the bottom of what happened, and wrongdoing, and we have pretty much demonstrated complete transparency in terms of media contact."

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Downing Street said it expected Mr Cameron to make a statement tomorrow and take questions from MPs afterwards, but Labour leader Ed Miliband called for a full debate. It is taking place the day after Commons was scheduled to go into summer recess.

"We must give MPs the chance to debate the issues arising from the select committee hearing and ensure the Prime Minister addresses the many unanswered questions that he faces," Mr Miliband said.

The Tory leader also defended his decision to travel overseas at the height of the hacking row.

"It is important for the Prime Minister to get out there with British business at a time when we need investment and growth and jobs back at home," he said.

Sir Paul made a reference in his resignation statement to the Prime Minister's close relationship with Mr Coulson.

But Downing Street rejected suggestions that there was any similarity between Neil Wallis being employed by Scotland Yard and Mr Coulson working in Downing Street.

The Labour leader said the Prime Minister was "hamstrung" from dealing with the crisis of confidence in the media and the police because of his decision to employ Mr Coulson.

"It is also striking that Sir Paul Stephenson has taken responsibility and resigned over the employment of Mr Coulson's deputy, while the Prime Minister has not even apologised for hiring Mr Coulson," said Mr Miliband.

Mr Yates's resignation followed the decision of the Metropolitan Police Authority's to suspend him and refer his conduct to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

But Mr Clegg rejected any suggestion that Mr Cameron should be considering his position in the aftermath of recent developments.

He said: "Let's keep some perspective here. The fear that people have is that a criminal investigation could be jeopardised by the contact between the police and media."

In the Commons, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs that the affair raised "very serious questions" for Mr Cameron.

"The judgment of the Met has been called into serious question by appointing Neil Wallis, but so has the judgment of the Prime Minister in appointing Neil Wallis' boss, Andy Coulson, " she said.

"People will look at this and think it is one rule for the police and one rule for the Prime Minister."Senior Labour backbencher Sir Gerald Kaufman called on Mr Cameron to "consider his position" in the wake of the scandal and the flurry of resignations since Friday.

"Since the Prime Minister took Andy Coulson into his employment after Coulson confessed to the culture, media and sport committee that he had committed criminality - namely, the payment of police - ought not the Prime Minister to be considering his position?" he asked.

Fellow Labour MP Dennis Skinner went further and demanded Mr Cameron's resignation.

"Only one area remains intact - Millionaires' Row, the Government bench," he said.

"When is Dodgy Dave going to do the decent thing and resign?"

Meanwhile, Downing Street was forced to disclose that a revised list of Mr Cameron's contacts with senior media figures is being published, as there had been some "omissions" from the version issued last week.

These included another meeting with Ms Brooks - in addition to the five already declared - and a lunch with the BBC.