Ed Balls calls for PM to fire media chief Andy Coulson as phone-hacking row continues

The shadow home secretary today called for David Cameron to sack communications director Andy Coulson over phone-hacking allegations.

Labour's Ed Balls urged a police investigation into new evidence of eavesdropping by reporters at the News of the World when Mr Coulson was editor.

The paper has now suspended assistant editor Ian Edmondson, appointed by Mr Coulson, after actress Sienna Miller complained her voicemail was hacked into.

Mr Balls told BBC Radio 4: "Increasingly it's getting closer and closer to the former editor of the News of the World, Mr Coulson, and it does raise a very substantial question about David Cameron's judgment. How can the head of media in No 10 be somebody who is under such suspicion that he was involved in illegal activity?"

Scotland Yard closed an investigation into Mr Coulson last month, saying there was no evidence he was involved in phone hacking. Mr Balls suggested a review into the force's handling of the case might be needed.

Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Home Affairs Committee investigating media intrusion, said he would write to the Metropolitan Police, asking if they planned to interview Mr Edmondson.

Mr Coulson, who quit as editor when former royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed for phone hacking, strongly denies he was aware of wrongdoing.

Lawyers for Miller claim documents show private investigator Glenn Mulcaire intercepted her voicemail, and link the operation to Mr Edmondson.