Prime Minister David Cameron misled the Leveson Inquiry over his relationship with former Sun Editor Rebekah Brooks, a new book has claimed.
Cameron told the investigation that he saw more of Mrs Brooks after she married his former Eton school friend Charlie. However, Matthew d’Ancona, who has known the Prime Minister for more than 20 years disagreed. In his book on the Coalition Government, d’Ancona claims: “Cameron knew Charlie Brooks only slightly before his marriage to Rebekah. It was Rebekah who brought him closer to Charlie, not the other way round.”
The book, In It Together, claims that Cameron told Leveson he was “seeing more” of Brooks because of his “friendship with Charlie and as a neighbour”. It reveals that Brooks was not initially a member of Cameron’s inner circle but made her way in due to her charm.
The book also deals with Cameron’s relationship with his former director of communications Andy Coulson, who he appointed in 2007. He describes the Prime Minister as being “awestruck” by the former News of the World editor.
Related
“He treated Coulson as a redtop shaman, a source of knowledge about the world of tabloids, Essex and kitchen-table politics.”
Coulson was forced to resign from his Downing Street post in January 2011 after allegations of alleged phone-hacking surfaced concerning his time as editor of the News of the World.
Both Brooks and Coulson have been charged in connection with the investigation and face trial next month, however they both deny all charges.
Content from our partners
According to a report in The Guardian, a Downing Street spokesman dismissed many of the claims within the book.
“The idea that the Prime Minister misled Leveson is complete nonsense. The other claims are assertions that have no basis in reality.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
