Very big question marks against Andy Coulson’s future

David Cameron believes that one of the high points of his leadership has been the “Flying Squad”/”Get Carter” way he dealt with Tory MPs’ expenses.

He and his team believe this has won him points for “getting it” when it comes to the public distrust of politicians. Can he really afford to risk this right now by standing by Andy Coulson?

Coulson faces a possible pincer movement as the police and the Information Commissioner come under pressure to share more of the information talked about in The Guardian today, while the Commons Media Select Committee is bound to re-open its inquiry into News International’s methods. (The committee is not only Labour-dominated, it also, as of Tuesday next week, has a new member: step forward one Tom Watson!)

Senior Tories report that voters in the Norwich by-election are difficult to rouse, disinclined to back the main parties so soon after the expenses saga. Does David Cameron really want to give them another reason to deny him what would normally be a mighty victory?

Andy Coulson’s only relevant, on the record denial so far relates to whether he knew anything about what Clive Goodman was up to with the Royals’ phones.

He has yet to address in public the allegation of wider, systemic abuse and possible breaches of the law on his watch at the News of the World and what knowledge he had of them.

Until he refutes all knowledge of that in public there must be question marks, very big ones, against his future.