Coulson's verdict is in but Cameron's is yet to come

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron looks set to come under more fire today over his decision to employ disgraced former News of the World editor Andy Coulson.

Having been found guilty yesterday after a drawn out eight month trial, of phone hacking Coulson's tattered reputation has tainted the Conservative leader at a time when he needs all the political power he can muster.

Facing off against Labour Leader Ed Miliband today at Prime Minister's Questions Mr Cameron may find that he has to explain that decision with greater clarity if he wants to salvage some of his own tarnished image.

Following the guilty verdict handed down yesterday Mr Cameron rushed out an apology to try and stem the inevitable flow of criticism over his choice of communications director.

 In a statement to the media, Mr Cameron said he accepted "full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson".

"I did so on the basis of undertakings I was given by him about phone hacking and those turn out not be the case.

"I always said if they turned out to be wrong, I would make a full and frank apology and I do that today. I am extremely sorry that I employed him. It was the wrong decision," adding:

"I would say that no one has made any complaints about the work that he did for me, either as leader of the opposition or here, in Number 10 Downing Street. But knowing what I now know and knowing those assurances weren't right, it was obviously wrong to employ him.

"I gave someone a second chance and it turned out to be a bad decision."

This hasn't stopped opposition MP's from pressing ahead their attack however. Questioning Mr Cameron's claim that he was giving Coulson a "second chance" Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said: "That does not wash. He was not somebody who'd admitted what he'd done and was turning over a new leaf."

Ahead of their confrontation later today Mr Miliband added his voice to the growing condemnation of Mr Cameron, arguing that he had "brought a criminal into the heart of Downing Street", claiming that he "must have had his suspicions about Mr Coulson and yet he refused to act".

"We now know that he put his relationship with Rupert Murdoch ahead of doing the right thing when it came to Andy Coulson."

Coulson's conviction has not put an end to the storm surrounding accusations of hacking within the media as a further 12 trials are due to take place, with yet more charges still being levelled at the former editor. So long as they continue a long shadow still falls over journalism.

Reacting to yesterday's verdict Michelle Stanistreet, National Union of Journalists general secretary, said:

"It has felt as if the whole of journalism has been put on trial over this period, when instead there should have been an investigation into what was happening at the top of News UK, where a dysfunctional culture was created and presided over by the Murdochs and their lieutenants. 

“This should be the time to draw a line under the bullying behaviour in newsrooms which put journalists under pressure to act unethically. Plus, there are still many journalists, who were arrested, whose lives have been put on hold because of the fall out of what occurred at the News of the World."

For now though it is Mr Cameron who may be looking to move forward and put this all behind him as he gears up for his battle over Europe.

Hard fought freedom proven a farce

SENIOR British Politicians have condemned Egyptian authorities over today's sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists.

Prime Minister David Cameron said that he "was completely appalled" by the seven year sentences for two of the men, with a third given ten years, for effectively reporting in the situation within Egypt.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has reportedly summoned the Egyptian Ambassador to discuss the disturbing development in the country's slide back to an authoritarian state.

The three men, who continue to protest their innocence, include Australian Peter Greste, Al Jazeera's Kenya-based correspondent, Baher Mohamed and Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy, Cairo bureau chief of Al Jazeera English. They were accused of aiding the former political party the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been categorised as a terrorist organisation by Egypt's current leadership, and reporting false news.

A further six Journalists, two of whom are British, were convicted in abstentia. Mr Hague has called upon the Egyptian authorities, along with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to review the sentences. 

Attempting to cover the news of their imprisoned colleagues journalists from Al Jazeera were forced to rely on information from other broadcasters after being banned from operating in the country.

In a statement following the ruling, Al Jazeera English's managing director Al Anstey said the sentence "defies logic, sense, and any semblance of justice".

“Today three colleagues and friends were sentenced, and will continue behind bars for doing a brilliant job of being great journalists.  “Guilty” of covering stories with great skill and integrity.  ”Guilty” of defending people’s right to know what is going on in their world.   

“Peter, Mohamed, and Baher and six of our other colleagues were sentenced despite the fact that not a shred of evidence was found to support the extraordinary and false charges against them.

"There is only one sensible outcome now.  For the verdict to be overturned, and justice to be recognised by Egypt.  We must keep our voice loud to call for an end to their detention.  Alongside us is a worldwide solidarity, a global call for their release, and a demand for basic freedoms to be respected."

Human rights group Amnesty International have classified the three imprisoned journalists as "prisoners of conscience" and condemned the ruling, based on trumped up charges and no evidence, as an attempt to silence what is left of freedom of speech in Egypt.

 "This is a devastating verdict for the men and their families, and a dark day for media freedom in Egypt, when journalists are being locked up and branded criminals or ‘terrorists’ simply for doing their job,” said Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. 

“The only reason these three men are in jail is because the Egyptian authorities don’t like what they have to say. They are prisoners of conscience and must be immediately and unconditionally released. In Egypt today anyone who dares to challenge the state’s narrative is considered a legitimate target.”

A shadow hangs heavily over the hopes which so many had following the Arab Spring and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. While Mr Hague appeals to the Egyptian government to respect press freedoms there will be many who see this as a direct assault on liberty. Today's guilty verdicts will be seen as further evidence of President Sisi's hardline attitude to anything which may threaten his authoritarian power, and lead to renewed calls for genuine freedom and democracy in the country.