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James Murdoch to be quizzed by MPs over phone hacking James Murdoch to be quizzed by MPs over phone hacking
(about 3 hours later)
News International chairman James Murdoch is to face MPs' questions later after apparent discrepancies in phone-hacking evidence he gave this summer.News International chairman James Murdoch is to face MPs' questions later after apparent discrepancies in phone-hacking evidence he gave this summer.
In his second appearance before the culture, media and sport committee, he is likely to be pressed on what he knew of the extent of the illegal practice at the now-closed News of the World. The culture, media and sport committee is likely to press him on what he knew of the extent of the illegal practice at NI's now-closed News of the World.
He may also be asked about reports of undercover surveillance by the paper.
Mr Murdoch has said he stands by his last testimony, given in July.Mr Murdoch has said he stands by his last testimony, given in July.
He has insisted he was not shown evidence that hacking was wider than the company acknowledged at the time, despite conflicting claims from staff. Meanwhile, the NoW's ex-chief reporter has claimed the paper did not act on information he gave it about hacking.
In July, the News of the World was shut down after it was found to have hacked into the voicemail messages of prominent people, including murder victims and celebrities, as they looked for stories. Neville Thurlbeck also confirmed to the BBC that he had turned down a police offer of immunity from prosecution. He says the offer was made in return for providing evidence of phone-hacking at the paper, which he denies any involvement with.
Mr Thurlbeck, who is on police bail after being arrested in April on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages, has also lodged a claim for unfair dismissal against News International.
'Rogue reporter'
Mr Murdoch has insisted he was not shown evidence that hacking was wider than the company acknowledged at the time, despite conflicting claims from staff.
In July, the News of the World was shut down after it was found to have hacked into the voicemail messages of prominent people, including murder victims including teenager Milly Dowler and celebrities, as they looked for stories.
Shortly after, James Murdoch, his father Rupert, boss of parent company News Corp, and Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the NoW, gave evidence to the Commons media committee.Shortly after, James Murdoch, his father Rupert, boss of parent company News Corp, and Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the NoW, gave evidence to the Commons media committee.
They denied knowing the full extent of the allegations until evidence in civil cases was requested in late 2010.They denied knowing the full extent of the allegations until evidence in civil cases was requested in late 2010.
James Murdoch told the committee he had not been "aware" of an email suggesting hacking went beyond a single "rogue" reporter - Clive Goodman who was jailed for four months in 2007.James Murdoch told the committee he had not been "aware" of an email suggesting hacking went beyond a single "rogue" reporter - Clive Goodman who was jailed for four months in 2007.
However later two former NoW executives issued a statement claiming they had informed Mr Murdoch of the email but he responded by saying he stood by his testimony. The email, marked "for Neville," assumed to refer to Mr Thurlbeck, contained transcripts of private voicemail messages revealing that footballer's union leader Gordon Taylor's phone had been hacked.
Since that hearing, the Metropolitan Police have estimated that close to 6,000 people may have had their phones hacked. However, later two former NoW executives issued a statement claiming they had informed Mr Murdoch of the email in 2008 but he responded by saying he stood by his testimony.
Since that hearing, the Metropolitan Police have estimated that close to 6,000 people may have had their phones hacked since 2002.
Mr Thurlbeck denies he ever saw the "for Neville" email, telling the BBC on Wednesday that he neither carried out nor commissioned hacking. He says he would be found not guilty if he were prosecuted.
He says he gave NoW managers a dossier of evidence in July 2009 to show that hacking was still a problem at the newspaper and they took no action.
Royals and politiciansRoyals and politicians
The latest damaging claims against the News of the World come after a private detective told the BBC he spent eight years working for the paper following more than 100 targets, including Prince William, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, former attorney general Lord Goldsmith and football manager Jose Mourinho.The latest damaging claims against the News of the World come after a private detective told the BBC he spent eight years working for the paper following more than 100 targets, including Prince William, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, former attorney general Lord Goldsmith and football manager Jose Mourinho.
News International has said it was not able to comment.News International has said it was not able to comment.
Among Derek Webb's 100-or-so targets was Labour MP Tom Watson, a member of the Commons media committee who will face Mr Murdoch later.Among Derek Webb's 100-or-so targets was Labour MP Tom Watson, a member of the Commons media committee who will face Mr Murdoch later.
On Tuesday, he told the BBC: "I would imagine that James Murdoch would want to explain whether the company did hire private investigators to follow me and was it around the time of the investigation into phone hacking on my committee?On Tuesday, he told the BBC: "I would imagine that James Murdoch would want to explain whether the company did hire private investigators to follow me and was it around the time of the investigation into phone hacking on my committee?
"And did they hire private investigators to follow any other committee members?"And did they hire private investigators to follow any other committee members?
"It's probably relevant to the investigation we're doing now and I'll talk to colleagues to see where we should take it next.""It's probably relevant to the investigation we're doing now and I'll talk to colleagues to see where we should take it next."
Murdoch critics
Another Labour member of the committee, Steve Rotheram, said he wanted to know why "unlawful and unethical behaviour" was allowed to "become endemic" across News International.Another Labour member of the committee, Steve Rotheram, said he wanted to know why "unlawful and unethical behaviour" was allowed to "become endemic" across News International.
He said he wanted to ask specifically about emails seen by Mr Murdoch, and whether, as the chief executive, he accepted that he was negligent.He said he wanted to ask specifically about emails seen by Mr Murdoch, and whether, as the chief executive, he accepted that he was negligent.
"If, as expected, Mr Murdoch suggests that News Corp could have acted faster and more decisively between 2007 and 2010, I want to know why he made the conscious decision not to act.""If, as expected, Mr Murdoch suggests that News Corp could have acted faster and more decisively between 2007 and 2010, I want to know why he made the conscious decision not to act."
Since the scandal first came to light, critics of the Murdoch family, which has control of News Corp and its global newspaper and media assets, have said not enough was done to stop the phone hacking when the accusations arose.Since the scandal first came to light, critics of the Murdoch family, which has control of News Corp and its global newspaper and media assets, have said not enough was done to stop the phone hacking when the accusations arose.
This has put pressure on James Murdoch's position on the News Corp board.This has put pressure on James Murdoch's position on the News Corp board.
Last month, Mr Murdoch clung onto his seat even though almost 35% of News Corporation investors voted against him being re-elected to the board.Last month, Mr Murdoch clung onto his seat even though almost 35% of News Corporation investors voted against him being re-elected to the board.
On Monday, a judicial inquiry, led by Lord Justice Leveson, will get under way. It will report on the culture, practices and ethics of the press within 12 months.On Monday, a judicial inquiry, led by Lord Justice Leveson, will get under way. It will report on the culture, practices and ethics of the press within 12 months.