David Cameron's communications director, Andy Coulson, has been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police over his alleged knowledge of phone-hacking at the News of the World.

Mr Coulson, an ex-editor of the paper, voluntarily met police at a solicitor's office to discuss the hacking.

He denies knowing anything about it.

Reports in the New York Times in September claimed the activities had been more extensive than had been previously admitted.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Andy Coulson voluntarily attended a meeting with Metropolitan Police officers yesterday morning at a solicitor's office in London. Mr Coulson - who first offered to meet the police two months ago - was interviewed as a witness and was not cautioned or arrested."

In 2007, the paper's royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed for four months for conspiracy to access phone messages which had been left for royal aides. A private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, was jailed for six months on the charge.

IMHO Coulson's position that he was editor but knew nothing about a culture of using illegal methods to get stories is frankly risible.

If he didn't know, he was incompetent.  Has a "who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" kind of feel to it, but at least Henry did penance afterwards.