The BBC just spent twenty-two minutes of a half hour news program talking about Coulson. Tom Watson has been granted emergency questions in the House and the lefty press are determined to keep this going. There is nothing new to the the reheated and rehashed allegations in the New York Times. Everyone knows journalists break the law to get stories. If newspaper investigations kept to the letter of the law more scandal would go uncovered.

The problem for Labour is how little they cared when they were in power. Why only in opposition has Alan Johnson finally decided to make some noise? He had far more power when he was Home Secretary. Unless there is firm evidence that Coulson ordered the hacks, which Guido suspects there won’t be, it’ll be hearsay from a disgruntled employee, and he will get away with it. Coulson is as guilty as sin of condoning that culture, but he’s already lost his job once over this. Remember that other newspapers – including the Guardian’s sister paper the Observer – also hacked phones. The hysterics are fake and will tire as real parliamentary business gets  underway. Guido’s sympathy is with whoever had to transcribe Prescott’s phone calls…

UPDATE : Bookies give Coulson a 75% chance of going before Conservative Party conference and only a 25% chance of him staying.  Guido’s money is on him staying.