Cameron misled House over Coulson meeting


by Sunny Hundal    
4:51 pm - July 15th 2011

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On the day of the BSkyB deal, culture minister Jeremy Hunt said David Cameron had not been in touch with Andy Coulson “recently”.

But today’s revelation that Cameron and Coulson lunched three months after the latter’s resignation means that Hunt misled Parliament.

In fact, if what Jeremy Hunt said was true, it was David Cameron who himself lied.

This is what Jeremy Hunt said in Parliament:

The Prime Minister has said that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson since he resigned his position

He went on to correct himself:

I believe that what the Prime Minister said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently.

That is still misleading, depending on how you define “recently”. This was just four months ago.

Video of the exchange (by Political Scrapbook)

hat-tip @peterfainton and @thejimsmith

Update 2: Guardian points out it was more than just a launch:

In a sign of his determination to stand by the man he described as a “friend”, the prime minister paid out of his own pocket to welcome Coulson for an overnight stay at Chequers.

No surprise Cameron decided to reveal this all on a late Friday afternoon.

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Watchman

Interesting. Was it deliberate or not?

2. Cherub

@1

Credulous or what?

3. Mark

But Hunt immediately corrected himself, so this is a total non-story.

4. Jim Smith

The question now is, to what was Hunt referring when he said “The Prime Minister has said..”.

It is, of course, entirely possible that Huntsimply misspoke or misremembered. These things happen.

But it is interesting.

5. Mark

“May I take this moment to correct what I said earlier to the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson)? I believe that what the Prime Minister said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently.”

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110713/debtext/110713-0001.htm#11071354000010

6. Tim J

I think this headline might need correcting (again…) on two bases. The first that Cameron misled nobody – the statement in question was from Jeremy Hunt; the second that even Jeremy Hunt doesn’t look like he’s misled anyone.

7. Botzarelli

Meeting someone last 3 months ago when you are likely to have a lunch appointment with a bunch of different people every day – not sure I can see a real conspiracy in describing that as “not recently”.

8. Sunny Hundal

to have a lunch appointment with a bunch of different people every day –

Yeah, just the guy accused of serious fraud and corruption, and who was your director of communication. ANY OTHER GUY Yeah.

9. Janvier

I’m of the view that in this instance Hunt has misled the house, but he has unknowingly misled the house (should he just be going on what Cameron has told him), which isn’t really something I’m going to jump on his back about.

10. Mr Grunt

Just another slip up with many of their lies. The Tories/Coalition foundations are built on deceit and lies.

I bet they dont no whether they are coming or going themselves with all the deceit, lies and spin. I should imagine they are dizzy as hell, where they belong.

11. James

A bit of a stretch. Rebecca Brooke’s 3.5 million pound cheque is rather more interesting,

12. WHS

@8. And you’re in mo way a smug bien pensant twat trying to make naked political capital out of this, in favour of your favoured student union hack who managed to win the Labour leadership. YEAH RIGHT.

13. Mr Grunt

Just seen the news that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned.

I think it is now time that David Cameron also handed in his resignation.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Jeremy Hunt misled Commons over Coulson meeting http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  2. Julia Hines

    Jeremy Hunt misled Commons over Coulson meeting http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  3. sunny hundal

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  4. Paul Shields

    #sackDave RT @sunny_hundal: If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  5. iestyn lloyd

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  6. sunny hundal

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  7. Sam Liu

    Cameron misled Commons over Coulson meeting | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/wbLj6nF via @libcon

  8. Matt Gillespie

    @ChrisBryantMP see last tweet from @sunny_hundal http://t.co/7pnaoHW

  9. The Gadfly

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  10. TheBiPolarBearMD

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  11. The Gadfly

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  12. Scott

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  13. NavanDental

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  14. SW Surrey Lib Dems

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  15. Tony McNulty

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  16. SW Surrey Lib Dems

    Jeremy Hunt misled Commons over Coulson meeting http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  17. Alida Cornelius

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  18. Dario Llinares

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  19. Faisal Tuddy

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  20. peter fainton

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  21. Christopher Gurr

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  22. Hammy Cammy

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  23. Deborah Ffrench

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  24. Swamp Thang

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  25. Andy S

    Jeremy Hunt misled Commons over Coulson meeting http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  26. Jonathan Wood

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  27. Andy S

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  28. Katharine Mansell

    ooooooooo http://t.co/Z0HphpB

  29. Simon

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  30. Rufus Hound

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  31. HRH Queen Antonia

    Try saying that 10 times fast… RT @libcon: Jeremy Hunt misled Commons over Coulson meeting http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  32. Mitch Benn

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  33. Patrick Kelly

    Jeremy Hunt misled Commons over Coulson meeting http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  34. Emma Girdlestone

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  35. Harry Gallagher

    Cameron misled House over Coulson meeting | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/AyOk5ti via @libcon

  36. Jane Gallagher

    Cameron denied meeting with Coulson after sacked – LIAR! Question Cameron: http://t.co/idsQU0G

  37. Jane Gallagher

    @johnprescott Is this known? Cameron should be up for questioning: http://t.co/idsQU0G

  38. David Davies

    Cam misled House over Coulson meeting ~ http://t.co/27cBjfG

  39. Mike Hickman

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  40. Alfred Wallace

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  41. Ian Robinson

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  42. Neil Atkinson

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  43. Esma Levendoglu

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  44. Monkey_Chops

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  46. Stephe Meloy

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  47. The Housekeeper

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  48. Elaine S

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  49. Elaine S

    If this is true, then Jeremy Hunt misled Parliament at PMQs or Cameron lied. Or BOTH http://bit.ly/oIhM9S

  50. Hugh David

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  51. Tom Abell

    Jeremy Hunt at PMQs: "I believe that what [PM] said was that he has not spoken to Andy Coulson recently" http://bit.ly/oIhM9S – MISLEADING

  52. Rocky Hamster

    Cameron misled House over Coulson meeting | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/pCQgHUb via @libcon

  53. John Nor

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  54. Pen

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  55. Kim Blake

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  56. Jean

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  57. ubik1976

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  58. Lil

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  59. Annastasia

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