SO, WHAT to make of the News of the World phone tap allegations and, more importantly (if you’re a political junkie, anyway), Andly Coulson’s alleged role in it?

First off, those of you whose reaction to any criticism of the Conservative Party in this area is "Well, what about McBride?" should direct their comments to someone who wasn’t appalled by his behaviour and who didn’t condemn it at the time. In other words, not me.

It’s also not enough to point to the fact that McBride, as a civil servant, was paid from the public purse and Coulson isn’t and therefore that makes some kind of difference. Because it doesn’t. Surely the point is that leaders are expected to exercise a level of judgment about who they appoint as their closest advisers. Gordon paid a heavy price in the wake of Smeargate because of his close association with McBride. Are defenders of Cameron and Coulson claiming that whatever the results of the police investigation into this latest scandal, Cameron’s judgment in appointing Coulson was faultless?

Cameron told Sky News today: "Of course I knew about that resignation before offering him the job. But I believe in giving people a second chance. As director of communications for the Conservatives he does an excellent job in a proper, upright way at all times."

This is a significant statemen by Cameron. He’s saying that whatever Coulson may or may not have done in his professional life before starting work for the Tories, none of it would justify his sacking from his current post. That’s quite a controversial and risky statement and one which Cameron may come to regret sooner than he thinks.

Wouldn’t it have shown better judgment for an aspiring Prime Minister, instead of writing a moral blank cheque, to have said that while he had the utmost faith in Andy Coulson, they had mutually agreed that he should take gardening leave while the investigation continues, is confident he’ll be fully vindicated, etc…?

For what it’s worth, I have no idea what Coulson’s role has been. He may be completely innocent. According to Cameron, it doesn’t matter either way — he’ll still have his job whatever the police investigation concludes.

Except, he won’t.

I’m not one for demanding anyone’s resignation; in my experience such calls are made more for the publicity benefits than because it’s justified. But if this story grows as I think it will between now and the publication of Sunday’s papers, then Cameron is going to have a hell of a difficult PMQs next week — the last before the summer recess, remember.

So I predict that Coulson will be gone before then.