Boris Johnson has failed to back the prime minister over the phone hacking scandal, saying that questions over David Cameron's appointment of Andy Coulson to Number 10 were a "matter for government".
As the mayor of London gave a press conference on Monday about the resignation of metropolitan assistant police commissioner John Yates, he told journalists: "I don't think there's a very clear read across in this matter... This is a matter you must direct to Number 10 Downing Street."
Labour leader Ed Miliband said in a speech earlier on Monday afternoon that David Cameron's leadership had been damaged by the crisis.
He pointed to a "sharp contrast" between the actions of David Cameron and those of Sir Paul Stephenson, who has resigned over links to a former News of the World executive.
As Sir Paul, Britain's top police officer, stepped down last night, the prime minister was on his way to a long-scheduled visit to South Africa.
David Cameron was told about Sir Paul's resignation statement, in which he said the prime minister was "compromised" by his relationship to Andy Coulson, mid-air.