Sheridan helped bring down No10 spin doctor

THE Tommy Sheridan trial was a factor in Andy Coulson's decision to quit as the Prime Minister's chief spin doctor, after months of speculation over his role in the News of the World phone tapping scandal, senior Downing Street figures have revealed.

His resignation is a major blow to David Cameron, and opponents have questioned his judgment in employing and standing by a man whose past was under such close scrutiny.

There were concerns among senior Tories last night that Mr Cameron would struggle to find somebody to replace Mr Coulson with someone who had the "same connection to the real world" outside the "old Etonian elite" in Downing Street.

In a statement, Mr Coulson said he had become the story and was unable to give the "110 per cent required" to be director of communications at Downing Street.

He had come under increasing pressure over the practices at the News of the World of phone tapping politicians, sports stars and celebrities under his editorship.

While denying any knowledge of phone tapping and claiming the paper's former royal correspondent Clive Goodman, who went to prison, had been "a rogue reporter", he said that dealing with the allegations was becoming too much of a distraction.

"I stand by what I've said about those events but when the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on," he said.One of those distractions, which is said by insiders to have finally helped make up Mr Coulson's mind, was his appearance at Sheridan's perjury trial in Glasgow last month.

The charges related to statements Sheridan made in court when he successfully sued the News of the World about stories regarding his involvement with swingers' clubs.

A Downing Street insider told The Scotsman: "While the Tommy Sheridan trial is not the reason he resigned, it is fair to say that it certainly didn't help.

"It was one of the many things getting in his way and taking up his time that meant he couldn't do his job properly.

"He had to spend two or three days preparing for the trial and these things build up." Sheridan is appealing against his conviction for perjury and yesterday his lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said: "At the trial of Tommy Sheridan, Andy Coulson gave evidence under oath that he had no knowledge of phone hacking, despite Glen Mulcaire (a private investigator who did work for the News of the World and was sent to prison for phone hacking] having Mr Sheridan's mobile phone number and personal details. His evidence should now be re-examined by the authorities."

Mr Coulson's resignation deflect attention from the sudden decision by shadow chancellor Alan Johnson to quit on Thursday over stories about an affair between his wife and a policeman who protected them while he was home secretary. And Labour leader Ed Miliband, who was visiting Scotland, went on the attack, questioning Mr Cameron's judgment. He said: "Personally, I think Mr Coulson should have gone earlier. I think David Cameron made the wrong judgment in keeping him, when clearly they were going to make his job, at the very least, more difficult."

As news of a personal statement from Mr Coulson began to circulate yesterday morning, Downing Street put out an initial statement saying the Prime Minister had full confidence in his most senior adviser - Mr Cameron has regularly admitted it caused him sleepless nights if he went against his judgment.

Once the resignation was announced, Mr Cameron defended Mr Coulson and said it was wrong for him to be punished twice, having already quit as News of the World editor four years ago over the same allegations.

"He's run the Downing Street press office in a professional, competent and good way," the Prime Minister insisted. "He's done an excellent, excellent job. I think he should be judged by that. This is all about the past. It's just gone on and on."

However, with the Crown Prosecution Service reviewing the evidence on the phone-tapping allegations, Labour MPs who believe they were victims of the Coulson regime at the tabloid were pushing for further inquiries.

Labour MP Tom Watson said: "This is the second job that Andy Coulson has resigned from for something he claims to know nothing about."

He also noted that the announcement had come just as Tony Blair was giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry.

He said: "It's a mark of the man that he would sneak out a statement on a Friday morning on a busy news day.

"Spin and obfuscation is all we get from Downing Street - we need to get to the truth."