David Cameron defends decision to hire Andy Coulson

David Cameron has defended his decision to hire the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as his communications director.

In a statement before a full House of Commons, the prime minister said "with 20-20 hindsight and all that has followed, I would not have offered him the job and I suspect he would not have taken it".

On whether Mr Coulson knew about the phone-hacking scandal, the prime minister said: "If it turns out I have been lied to, that would be a moment for a profound apology, and in that event I can tell you I will not fall short."