Mr Cameron had been on the brink of appointing the BBC’s Guto Harri as his media chief when he was Opposition leader. Mr Harri and his family spent a weekend with the Camerons in 2007 to discuss the job offer.
However, it went to Mr Coulson after Mrs Brooks got involved, according to sources in the Tory party and at News International.
She is said to have told Mr Cameron that the post should go to Mr Coulson to strengthen links between the Tories and News International.
So much for Murdoch not pulling the strings.