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.

Time to talk about a problem like Ed

LABOUR's recent boost in the polls may not be enough to counteract the "Ed Miliband problem" according to political analysts.

In the latest survey conducted by polling agency YouGov Labour had a six point lead with 38 per cent of the vote, compared the the Tories 32 per cent.

While this is being hailed as a sign of support for the party's policies there are fears that if Ed Miliband remains as leader the results will not translate into a General Election victory.

Mr Miliband is currently at his lowest point in ratings according to the alternative Guardian ICM poll at the weekend, which saw his satisfaction rating drop from -25 to -39, lower than Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg at -37.

Despite the results Mr Miliband still appears to have the support of party stalwarts to keep threats of a leadership contest at bay.

Rachael Reeves, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, told the Guardian: "I am incredibly proud to serve under Ed. It would be with huge pride that I would serve in a Labour government under his leadership. When Ed is prime minister, we will see change we haven't seen for a generation. That change will profoundly change the lives of people who, for too long under governments of all colours, have been really struggling and left behind."

Also weighing in to defend his party's leader Former Home Secretary, David Blunkett, was reported in Huffington Post as saying: "He is the only man and he is the only man because he is our leader. Nobody is going to challenge him, he is in a unique position, actually because Tony Blair was bedevilled and in the latter days so was Gordon Brown. Ed is free of that," he said.

Mr Miliband's poor ratings may not be affecting the Labour leader now but as the election draws closer it could start to be a different matter.

According to research conducted by the Centre for Research in Elections and Social Trends: "Leaders have become the human face of election campaigns, while electorates have become dealigned. This has lead to the suggestion that in parliamentary elections many voters now vote for the party leader they like best in much the same way that in presidential elections they vote for the candidate they like best."

With 60 per cent of those polled by YouGov thinking that Mr Miliband would not be up to the job of Prime Minister and 56 per cent believing that he is out of touch with voters he could find that he becomes more of a hindrance than asset for the party in May.

Speaking in Wales on Saturday Mr Miliband told reporters: "I am not only determined, but I am confident that we can win the next election. We need to because the stakes are incredibly high for the country."

If the polls stay as they are though Mr Miliband might be leading the party to a catastrophic defeat in the next General Election. One which Mr Blunkett has warned could see Labour relegated to the political wilderness for the next 15 years.