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James Murdoch to be quizzed by MPs over phone hacking MPs question James Murdoch over phone hacking
(about 7 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 being questioned for a second time by MPs about phone hacking at the 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. His testimony to the culture, media and sport committee in July was disputed by the NoW's former legal manager.
Mr Murdoch has said he stands by his last testimony, given in July. Mr Murdoch faces questions about what he knew when he signed off an out-of-court payment to footballers' union leader Gordon Taylor in 2008.
He has said he stands by his "accurate account of events" to the committee.
Meanwhile, the NoW's ex-chief reporter has claimed the paper did not act on information he gave it about hacking.Meanwhile, the NoW's ex-chief reporter has claimed the paper did not act on information he gave it about hacking.
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. 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.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''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. Mr Murdoch says he was not shown evidence that hacking was more widespread 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. 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 murdered teenager Milly Dowler and a number of 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.
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. The email, marked "for Neville" and assumed to refer to Mr Thurlbeck, contained transcripts of private voicemail messages revealing that Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor's phone had been 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. However, two former NoW executives - former editor Colin Myler and former legal manager Tom Crone - later issued a statement claiming they "did inform him" of the email in 2008 when he agreed to settle the Gordon Taylor case.
Since that hearing, the Metropolitan Police have estimated that close to 6,000 people may have had their phones hacked since 2002. Mr Crone later told the committee the email had been "the reason" for settling the case and it "certainly" would have been discussed.
Mr Murdoch said his recollection of the meeting was "absolutely clear" and his testimony had been "an accurate account of events".
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.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.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.
Mr Murdoch is also likely to be asked about information supplied to the committee in October by solicitors Farrer and Co, who advised News International in relation to the Gordon Taylor case, including a copy of its legal opinion to the company in June 2008.
In the document, Michael Silverleaf QC says there is "a powerful case that there is (or was) a culture of illegal information access used at NGN [News Group Newspapers] in order to produce stories for publication" and advises that a public trial would be "extremely damaging" to the company's reputation.
Since the July hearing, the Metropolitan Police have raised their estimate of people who may have had their phones hacked since 2002 to 6,000.
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. Earlier this week a private detective told the BBC he spent eight years working for the News of the World 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. Among Derek Webb's 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, Mr Watson 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? 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 phone hacking when the accusations arose.
"And did they hire private investigators to follow any other committee members? This has put pressure on James Murdoch's position on the News Corp board - with nearly 35% of News Corporation investors voting against him being re-elected to the board last month.
"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.
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."
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.
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.