Cameron's statement

The Prime Minister said today:

"I am very sorry that Andy Coulson has decided to resign as my Director of Communications, although I understand that the continuing pressures on him and his family mean that he feels compelled to do so. Andy has told me that the focus on him was impeding his ability to do his job and was starting to prove a distraction for the Government.

"During his time working for me, Andy has carried out his role with complete professionalism. He has been a brilliant member of my team and has thrown himself at the job with skill and dedication. He can be extremely proud of the role he has played, including for the last eight months in Government.

I wish Andy all the very best for his future, which I am certain will be a successful one."

Telegraph changes tune...

Just as I was getting bored with Westminster politics – what with it being a while now since the hung Parliament, first coalition in decades, Miliband brothers’ psychodrama, biggest ever cuts thing – Alan Johnson livens things up.

Everyone will have noticed the various lines around in the papers this morning, the difference in what is alleged in the Mail and what was alleged in the Telegraph, along the lines of the Guido bit from last night, is stark.

The thing is, the Mail story seems to be stood up by the fact that Scotland Yard has launched disciplinary proceedings against Paul Rice, Johnson’s bodyguard when he was Home Secretary.

And yet the Telegraph’s print piece doesn’t seem to name any other sources for its story except Guido. It does say Labour insiders told the paper Johnson’s marriage was on the rocks, but that does not stand up the overall line.

Now we see on the Telegraph website that they have changed their story to one more along the lines of the Mail’s piece.

Interesting to see if the Telegraph is challenged over its original print story and is forced to rely on Guido to come to the rescue with its sources – dead tree and digital stand together.

The new shadow cabinet

Leader of the Opposition
Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rt Hon Ed Balls MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP

Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Chief Whip
Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Coordinator
Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP

Shadow Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice (with responsibility for political and constitutional reform)
Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Rt Hon John Denham MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Health
Rt Hon John Healey MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Angela Eagle MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Meg Hillier MP

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Maria Eagle MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Mary Creagh MP