Damian Collins has called on the government to support the victims of phone hacking after former News of the World editor Andy Coulson was found guilty yesterday.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons today, the Folkestone and Hythe MP asked whether David Cameron agreed if it should be the government’s first priority that “victims should receive redress”.

Coulson, who has a house in Charing near Ashford and was also one of Cameron’s closest advisors, was found guilty yesterday for allowing phone hacking at the tabloid newspaper which has since been shut down.

He has today been cleared of charges on conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office however, after the jury in the trial failed to return verdicts.

During a heated session in Westminster Mr Collins said: “Andy Coulson’s conviction shows that the parliamentary inquiry, of which I was a part, was consistently misled by him and others.

“But does the Prime Minister agree with me that our first concern should be that the victims should receive redress and also to uphold the democratic principles of a free press?”

Mr Cameron responded saying: “We should remember the victims, people who had their privacy wrecked and ensure that should never happen again.

“We should cherish a free and vibrant press in our country.”

Mr Cameron again apologised for employing Coulson saying he took full responsibility for making the “wrong decision”.