David Cameron's communications director, Andy Coulson, has been interviewed by police as a witness over his alleged knowledge of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.
The paper's former editor voluntarily attended a meeting with the Metropolitan police at a solicitor's office on Thursday morning. Coulson has always insisted he did not know about the illegal practice.
Last month a Channel 4 Dispatches programme featured an anonymous former News of the World journalist who said then editor Coulson listened to recordings of voicemails illegally obtained. Labour has successfully called for a parliamentary inquiry.
Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator on the News of the World's payroll, and the paper's former royal editor Clive Goodman were jailed for listening to phone messages belonging to members of the royal household in January 2007.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Andy Coulson voluntarily attended a meeting with Metropolitan police officers yesterday [Thursday] 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."
Labour MP and former minister Chris Bryant – who believes that he was targeted for phone-hacking – said he thought it was "inconceivable" that Coulson did not know what was being done by reporters under his command. "I think Andy Coulson will end up going. I think he will have to go in the end," Bryant told the BBC.
"I think if the police have done a proper investigation – and I hope they will be forced into doing a proper investigation – into each of the instances where people's privacy was illegally interfered with, then I think we will find out the full extent of what went on at the News of the World under Andy Coulson and he will have to take the rap for that."
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour Party, added: "The continued presence of Andy Coulson as director of communications at No 10 when question marks hang over him casts doubt over David Cameron's judgment. It is time he took this matter seriously."
The Guardian revealed in July last year that the News of the World had paid £1m in out-of-court settlements to three people, including Taylor, after messages left on their mobile phones were intercepted by Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator on the News of the World payroll.
Since then several former News of the World journalists have alleged that Coulson was aware phone hacking was going on when he edited the paper. Sean Hoare, a showbusiness reporter, told the New York Times Coulson had "actively encouraged" him to intercept voicemail.
Paul McMullan, who handled investigations, told the Guardian that illegal activity was so widespread in the newsroom that Coulson must have known about it. Coulson has denied all the claims.
