The arrest of Rebekah Brooks today has many repercussions, not least upon the parliamentary select committee before which she is due to appear. Much is being said and will be said about all that. However this blog today will concentrate on one issue only. The future of the Prime Minister.
This is now the biggest political crisis since Profumo. It does not involve sex, nor a second rank minister and a tart. It involves crime and the political leader of our country. It now transpires that Cameron had Coulson to Chequers for one sleepover and Rebekah for two, the only person to have been honoured with a repeat visit. Both are now arrested in connection with phone hacking and bribing the police. To say that this hospitality is unfortunate is to understate the case. To realise that the taxpayers paid for it, as Chequers is not a private house, will just inflame the scandal. But none of this holds a candle to a question which may now be asked.
How much did Cameron actually know?
Where these sleepovers just a junket at public expense or where there serious conversations in the library after dinner?
Why was the hostile Vince removed from the Murdoch frame in favour of the supine Hunt?
If these questions do start to be asked, whatever the denials and explanations, the Cameron premiership will be in trouble.
Next week will be full of surprises.