Editor Said to Receive Pay After He Took Tory Post

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

Editor Said to Receive Pay After He Took Tory Post
By RAVI SOMAIYA
Published: August 22, 2011

LONDON — The former News of the World editor Andy Coulson received hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance pay from his former employer after joining now-Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party as director of communications in 2007, according to a British Broadcasting Corporation report on Monday evening.

Mr. Coulson was arrested last month in connection with investigations into phone hacking and payments to police officials under his editorship. Although he has denied any wrongdoing, his role at Mr. Cameron’s side from 2007 until he stepped down this year had become the topic of political intrigue and swirling rumors here since the scandal came to dominate headlines last month.

In its report, the BBC said that the severance payments, part of an agreement that included company health care benefits and a car, were received in installments that continued after he joined the Conservative Party in July 2007.

A person in the party, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the legal and political sensitivity of the topic, said on Monday that there was confusion in the party over the report. Although some had suspected such an arrangement, the details cited by the BBC were not known, the source said, citing conversations with senior officials.




Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/world/europe/23hacking.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[Firebrand Gary]

1. This whole things is flipping crazy!

I cannot believe it has fallen out of the news cycle AGAIN???

[renate]

2. well, I think this will perk things up a bit

:wow:

[autorank]

3. This could wipe out PM Cameron and cost News Corp $3.9 bil

If this bears out, it is monumental. Coulson paid while working for the Conservative Party. WTF!!!

Cameron and the Cons didn't have to know. They would look the total fool (well, even more the fool).

It would be all regulators need to strip News Corp of its BSkyB share (39%) worth 3.7 billion US $. That would take News Corp
from a 32 to a 29 billion a year company, a 10% hit to the top line. That's real bad if you caused it. The board would be crazy
to allow Murdoch to continue as chairman with that revenue hit and - IF - the stock started tanking more than the general decline
in media stocks.

Great grab. This is stunning, truly.

UPDATE - Just saw this in The Guardian

"Rumours of a financial relationship between Coulson and News International have circulated for some time. It is understood that,
prior to him standing down as director of communications in January this year, party officials had asked Coulson directly whether he
had received payments from News International during the period he had worked for them. They were seemingly confident enough to give
the "categorical" assurances that he hadn't as recently as last month."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/23/andy-coulson-news-international-tories

So either Coulson lied to Conservative party officials and they ended up misrepresenting the situation OR Coulson told them the
truth and the Cons lied. These guys are the gang that couldn't shoot straight!

Another UPDATE:

Questions/Answers Coulson questioned by Labour MP Tom Watson (the sharpest pol on this issue)
Watson establishes the date Coulson resigned from News Corp, Coulson says he was paid up, then this:

Tom Watson And you have not got any secondary income other than that have you?
Coulson No.
Watson So your sole income was News International and then your sole income was the Conservative party?
Coulson Yes.
Tom Watson: That is great, thank you.

[dipsydoodle]

4. BBC News link here

Labour said PM David Cameron faced "serious questions" over the claims.

BBC business editor Robert Peston said the instalments received by Mr Coulson totalled the full entitlement under his two-year contract as editor of the now closed tabloid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14627871

Wording of the actual contract of employment should answer any issues raised here.

'morning :hi:

[Judi Lynn]

5. Wow. Getting very pointed. Thanks for the link. So damned creepy.

It would be so decent if this turned out as it should!

G'morning! :hi: