Phone hacking: With Cameron absent, Clegg left to defend Coulson in PMQs grilling

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Nick Clegg said today it was up to the police to investigate renewed allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World and that the government would not "second guess" the outcome.

With David Cameron absent due to his father being taken ill, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg took the stand at Prime Minister's Questions and was grilled by Shadow Justice Secretary Jack Straw on fresh evidence brought to light following a report last week by the New York Times. Straw repeatedly asked Clegg if he was "entirely satisfied" that Andy Coulson, director of communications for Downing Street and former editor of News of the World, was unaware of unlawful hacking of telephones at the tabloid, despite allegations by former employees that Coulson "actively encouraged" the practice.

In response, Clegg said Coulson had already "made it clear" that he had taken responsibility for "something that he had no knowledge of".

"It is now for the police and the police alone to decide if there is new evidence that has come to light that needs to be investigated," he added.

Clegg also told the House that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown had contacted Coulson upon his resignation from the tabloid to offer his support.

"When Andy Coulson resigned from the News of the World the first person to call to commiserate was Gordon Brown. He told him not to worry, that he had done the honourable thing and that he knew he would go on to do a worthwhile job."

Jack Straw continued in his questioning, quoting Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, who previously said "Mr Coulson was either complicit in a criminal act or the most incompetent editor in fleet street", asking Clegg which it was.

Clegg responded by saying that if new evidence has come to light then the police will now "actively look" and decide whether an investigation is required.

"The police need to decide. I want them to get on with that," he added.

In his final question to the deputy Prime Minister Jack Straw again questioned Coulson's statement denying all knowledge of hacking.

"So when the police have uncovered 2978 phone numbers of victims, does the deputy prime minister expect us to believe that the only person who knew nothing about phone hacking was the editor, the very man who the prime minister has brought into the heart of this government?"

Clegg re-stated it was up to the police to investigate the matter, adding: "We've got a war in Afghanistan, a flood in Pakistan and he is inviting this government to second guess the work of the police."

The Home Affairs Select Committee, which called in the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner John Yates yesterday to give evidence, has since announced it will launch a new inquiry into the allegations. This will be the second inquiry carried out by MPs following the Culture, Media and Sport select committee investigation which concluded earlier this year.