In July 2011 questions were raised about Coulson's security vetting at Number Ten. He had not been subjected to the highest level of vetting, "developed vetting", allowing unrestricted access to top secret material. His predecessors had had the highest level of vetting, as did his successor and (after his departure) his deputy. "The Guardian" said that the disclosure "is understood to have 'absolutely shocked' some Whitehall information staff." According to Chris Bryant MP, senior officials working with Coulson believed that he had the same clearance level as his predecessor. It later emerged that he was still being paid by News International while working for the then opposition leader.