Shock resignations send waves through Westminster - WalesOnline

THE surprise resignation of Downing Street communications director Andy Coulson yesterday sent shock waves through a Westminster still reeling from the departure of Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor.

Details of the "personal issues" that forced Mr Johnson to quit started to emerge amid allegations his bodyguard had an affair with his wife Laura.

Mr Johnson's ex-bodyguard was suspended last night over allegations that he had an affair with the former Shadow Chancellor's wife.

The episode led Mr Johnson to quit Labour's front bench on Thursday, forcing leader Ed Miliband to reshuffle his top team less than four months into the job.

Close protection officer PC Paul Rice guarded Mr Johnson when he was Home Secretary. He is thought to have worked for Theresa May since she took over at the Home Office last May.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Service confirmed an officer had been suspended pending the outcome of the Directorate of Professional Standards investigation into the allegations.

"The matter was referred by the MPS Specialist Operations Unit to the DPS on 20 January. A thorough investigation is now under way. As the allegation is subject to investigation, we are not able to comment further at this stage," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Mr Coulson – one of the Prime Minister's closest aides – threw in the towel and admitted the row over phone-hacking when he was editor of the News of the World had made his job impossible.

He said: "I stand by what I've said about those events, but when the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on."

Tory leader David Cameron is losing one of his most valued aides at the same time that his party has to react to the appointment of long-standing Gordon Brown ally Ed Balls as Shadow Chancellor.

There is no sign of the controversy surrounding the phone-hacking dying down, either. It emerged earlier this month that News of the World executive Ian Edmondson has been suspended as a result of claims in a case brought by actress Sienna Miller.

The Crown Prosecution Service has asked a senior QC to "comprehensively" re-examine material amassed as part of the original inquiry and any new evidence.

Labour front bencher and Rhondda MP Chris Bryant said he hoped the police would now conduct a thorough investigation.

He said: "To say this is long overdue is an understatement. Andy Coulson should never have been appointed in the first place."

Montgomeryshire Conservative MP Glyn Davies was saddened by the departure of the Downing Street communications director.

He said: "I'm hugely sorry to see Andy Coulson resign for reasons which are almost totally unrelated to his ability to do the job. All the indications I've had are he's a popular man and able to do a very good job."

Plaid Cymru AM Helen Mary Jones was dismayed by Mr Balls' elevation. During the Labour leadership election, when Mr Balls was a candidate, he declined to back reform of the Barnett formula which determines Treasury funding of the Assembly Government.

She said: "Appointing someone as the Shadow Chancellor who has previously shown the concerns of the people of Wales such contempt highlight exactly why Labour's claims to be standing up for Wales are a joke.ŠThis decision would be laughable if it did not carry with it such damaging consequences."

Adding that Labour Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain had described Mr Balls as the "best political economist in Parliament," she said: "Labour had 13 years of government to do something to tackle this unjust system but did nothing."

A spokesman for Mr Hain said: "Helen Mary Jones' claims are so hysterical and historical they hardly warrant a response. Wales' budget trebled during Labour's time in office.

"At the last election, we were the only political party with a deliverable commitment to guarantee the future fair funding of Wales."

Patrick Minford, a Cardiff University economist admired by Margaret Thatcher, admitted he was "not terribly keen" on Mr Balls, saying: "He's quite an old-style Keynesian."

However, he expected Chancellor George Osborne would enjoy their battles across the dispatch boxes.

He said: "I think he'll be very happy when Ed Balls is there because he represents everything that Osborne is rejecting and it's good to have a clear position on the Labour Party."

Labour politicians are also looking forward to the confrontation. Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, predicted Mr Balls would take Mr Osborne apart "limb from limb".