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Police call over phone tap claims Police call over phone tap claims
(21 minutes later)
John Prescott is to contact police over claims private investigators allegedly working for News of the World reporters intercepted his mobile phone messages.John Prescott is to contact police over claims private investigators allegedly working for News of the World reporters intercepted his mobile phone messages.
The Guardian alleges News Group Newspapers paid £1m in out-of-court settlements after its journalists were accused of involvement in phone tappingThe Guardian alleges News Group Newspapers paid £1m in out-of-court settlements after its journalists were accused of involvement in phone tapping
The paper claims the former deputy prime minister and thousands of public figures were targeted. It claims the Professional Footballers' Association's head received £700,000.
News International told the paper the case "means nothing to anyone here". The paper alleges the former deputy prime minister and thousands of public figures were targeted.
A Commons select committee has said it will investigate the claims.A Commons select committee has said it will investigate the claims.
Mr Prescott told the BBC he would be contacting the police to ask if his phone had indeed been tapped, why was he not informed and why was no action taken.Mr Prescott told the BBC he would be contacting the police to ask if his phone had indeed been tapped, why was he not informed and why was no action taken.
"I had no evidence of this, though frankly a lot of the stories in the paper were coming from information that was highly private," he said. "It's quite staggering really.""I had no evidence of this, though frankly a lot of the stories in the paper were coming from information that was highly private," he said. "It's quite staggering really."
'Secret deals''Secret deals'
The allegations stem from a court case involving the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman, who was jailed two years ago for tapping into the voicemail messages of royal staff.The allegations stem from a court case involving the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman, who was jailed two years ago for tapping into the voicemail messages of royal staff.
A private investigator - Glenn Mulcaire - was also jailed in January 2007.A private investigator - Glenn Mulcaire - was also jailed in January 2007.
The court heard how he had hacked into the phones of well-known names, including supermodel Elle Macpherson, publicist Max Clifford and the Professional Footballers' Association's Gordon Taylor.The court heard how he had hacked into the phones of well-known names, including supermodel Elle Macpherson, publicist Max Clifford and the Professional Footballers' Association's Gordon Taylor.
The Guardian says News Group Newspapers, the Rupert Murdoch company which publishes the Sun and the News of the World, has secretly paid more than a million pounds in out-of-court settlements in three similar cases.The Guardian says News Group Newspapers, the Rupert Murdoch company which publishes the Sun and the News of the World, has secretly paid more than a million pounds in out-of-court settlements in three similar cases.
We were given an absolute assurance when we carried out an inquiry that only one journalist on the News of the World had any knowledge of interceptions John Whittingdale MPWe were given an absolute assurance when we carried out an inquiry that only one journalist on the News of the World had any knowledge of interceptions John Whittingdale MP
According to the paper, £700,000 of that was paid to Mr Taylor, who sued on the basis that News Group must have known about the phone taps.According to the paper, £700,000 of that was paid to Mr Taylor, who sued on the basis that News Group must have known about the phone taps.
A spokesman for News Group's parent company, News International, said: "This particular case means nothing to anyone here, and I've talked to all the people who would be involved." The BBC has yet to receive a response from News International.A spokesman for News Group's parent company, News International, said: "This particular case means nothing to anyone here, and I've talked to all the people who would be involved." The BBC has yet to receive a response from News International.
'No knowledge''No knowledge'
John Whittingdale, Conservative chairman of the Commons culture committee, said it would consider the alleged revelations when it meets on Thursday.John Whittingdale, Conservative chairman of the Commons culture committee, said it would consider the alleged revelations when it meets on Thursday.
"I have to say I'm extremely surprised if it is the case that a payment of a million pounds has been made by News International to people who allegedly have had their phones intercepted by an investigator," he said."I have to say I'm extremely surprised if it is the case that a payment of a million pounds has been made by News International to people who allegedly have had their phones intercepted by an investigator," he said.
The Guardian alleges up to 3,000 high-profile figures were targeted including London Mayor Boris Johnson and former culture secretary Tessa Jowell.The Guardian alleges up to 3,000 high-profile figures were targeted including London Mayor Boris Johnson and former culture secretary Tessa Jowell.
The News of the World editor at the time, Andy Coulson, said: "This story relates to an alleged payment made after I left the News of the World two and a half years ago. I have no knowledge whatsoever of any settlement with Gordon Taylor."The News of the World editor at the time, Andy Coulson, said: "This story relates to an alleged payment made after I left the News of the World two and a half years ago. I have no knowledge whatsoever of any settlement with Gordon Taylor."
Mr Coulson, who is now the Conservative Party communications director, resigned over the Goodman affair but he denied being aware of what was going on.Mr Coulson, who is now the Conservative Party communications director, resigned over the Goodman affair but he denied being aware of what was going on.
A spokeswoman for David Cameron said the Conservative leader was "very relaxed" about the story.A spokeswoman for David Cameron said the Conservative leader was "very relaxed" about the story.
"The ramping up of this story is ridiculous - this is about a payment made well after Andy (Coulson) left the News of the World," she said."The ramping up of this story is ridiculous - this is about a payment made well after Andy (Coulson) left the News of the World," she said.