Chris Bryant: Palace objected to Coulson appointment

Downing Street has dismissed claims made by Labour MP Chris Bryant that officials at Buckingham Palace objected to the appointment of Andy Coulson as the prime minister's director of communications.

Mr Bryant told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that "very senior people at Buckingham Palace were very troubled" at the appointment of Andy Coulson because of his role as editor of the News of the World at a time when members of the Royal Family had their phones hacked.

A palace spokesman said: "No royal officials raised concerns about Mr Coulson's appointment with Downing Street. We do not comment on the private conversations of members of the Royal Family."