Andy Coulson

There are several very disturbing elements to this tale. An ex-editor friend says that for Coulson to claim that he knew nothing about the phone-tapping is incredible. He would have had to authorise payments to the Private Detective and others. It also does not square with his very aggressive style as an editor chasing celeb scandals to sell his paper. 

Call Me Dave bought into this style when he appointed him to be a surrogate Campbell to his surrogate Blair premiership. This says a great deal about CMD's judgement.

Even more disturbing has been the deep silence in most of the media about this story. That the News International stable have put the interests of their proprietor  (Mr R. Murdoch, aka 'The Dirty Digger') before the interests of the nation is hardly surprising. That other news organisations did so too is less understandable, until the fact that the Digger owns over 40% of the media in this country is taken into account. Good old 'enlightened self-interest' comes into play. Many journalists would not wish to scupper future employment opportunities. There is also a long tradition in Fleet Street of not attacking each other. The BBC are still cowed by the Hutton Report.

So why does this matter? A fair, open and rigorous press is a bastion in a democracy. The first thing that despots do is to control the media. Next, the police are used to enforce illiberal laws. Which brings us to the most serious aspect of this story. The role of the Metropolitan Police.

There are admissions on record that News International have paid members of the Met for information. This has gone on quietly for years. Where this takes on a sinister hue is the strong suspicion that the Diggers staff have leant on the investigating team to do a cursory job, ensuring much sensitive and damaging information remains buried. This is perverting the course of justice. This is a powerful organisation using its clout and muscle to subvert our democratic processes. If successful, it places News International above the Rule of Law.

And it's not even subtle or crafty. The chief investigating officer - one Andy Hayman - left the Met shortly after concluding his non-investigation - and walked into a job as a columnist with………News International.

Pass the sick bag.