NOTW Editor Said to Receive Pay After He Took Tory Post

LONDON — The former News of the World editor Andy Coulson received hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance pay from his former employer after joining now-Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party as director of communications in 2007, according to a British Broadcasting Corporation report on Monday evening.

Mr. Coulson was arrested last month in connection with investigations into phone hacking and payments to police officials under his editorship. Although he has denied any wrongdoing, his role at Mr. Cameron’s side from 2007 until he stepped down this year had become the topic of political intrigue and swirling rumors here since the scandal came to dominate headlines last month.

In its report, the BBC said that the severance payments, part of an agreement that included company health care benefits and a car, were received in installments that continued after he joined the Conservative Party in July 2007.