PM David Cameron now at centre of Britain's phone-hacking affair

British Prime Minister David Cameron is now at the centre of the country’s phone-hacking affair, following the resignation last night of Britain's most senior police officer, Sir Paul Stephenson.

Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett

David Cameron has come under renewed pressure to explain himself, following the departure of Britain’s most senior police officer on Sunday night.

In his resignation speech, Scotland Yard chief Sir Paul Stephenson said that he had felt unable to share information with the Prime Minister because of his friendly relationship with former News of the World editor, Andy Coulson.

His comments have given rise to speculation that Britain’s most senior police officer did not trust the Prime Minister.

Stephenson also made clear in his speech that he was resigning partly because of his relationship with Neil Wallis, who had worked as a deputy to Andy Coulson when both men worked at News International.

Andy Coulson was editor of The News of the World newspaper during the crucial period of the phone-hacking scandal which led to the closure of the paper earlier this month.

Stephenson pointedly highlighted the fact that he was resigning in part over his links to a News International employee, while the Prime Minister David Cameron, who gave a job to Andy Coulson six months after he left The News of the World, remained in his post.

On a visit to South Africa, David Cameron announced an emergency parliamentary debate to be held on Wednesday, to discuss the latest developments in the phone-hacking scandal.