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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 tapping | The Guardian alleges News Group Newspapers paid £1m in out-of-court settlements after its journalists were accused of involvement in phone tapping |
It claims the Professional Footballers' Association's head received £700,000. | |
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 MP | 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 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. |