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| News International 'wanted Lord Mandelson to coach Rebekah Brooks' | News International 'wanted Lord Mandelson to coach Rebekah Brooks' |
| (1 day later) | |
| News International wanted Lord Mandelson to "coach" Rebekah Brooks for an appearance before a parliamentary select committee just days after the News of the World closed, the Old Bailey has heard. | News International wanted Lord Mandelson to "coach" Rebekah Brooks for an appearance before a parliamentary select committee just days after the News of the World closed, the Old Bailey has heard. |
| The publishing company was planning to invite Mandelson, one of Tony Blair's closest aides and a former cabinet minister, to help prepare its beleaguered chief executive for her parliamentary appearance nine days after the tabloid was closed in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. | The publishing company was planning to invite Mandelson, one of Tony Blair's closest aides and a former cabinet minister, to help prepare its beleaguered chief executive for her parliamentary appearance nine days after the tabloid was closed in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. |
| The briefing was to take place in Enstone Manor Farm, a property belonging to a neighbour and friend of Brooks in Oxfordshire on 16-17 July 2011, the court was told. | The briefing was to take place in Enstone Manor Farm, a property belonging to a neighbour and friend of Brooks in Oxfordshire on 16-17 July 2011, the court was told. |
| This was two days before Brooks, along with Rupert and James Murdoch, was due to appear before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee to be quizzed about the phone-hacking scandal and governance at the company. | This was two days before Brooks, along with Rupert and James Murdoch, was due to appear before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee to be quizzed about the phone-hacking scandal and governance at the company. |
| Brooks told jurors in the phone-hacking trial on Wednesday: "We were all going to have a full debrief for the select committee and we were going to have a preparation session." | Brooks told jurors in the phone-hacking trial on Wednesday: "We were all going to have a full debrief for the select committee and we were going to have a preparation session." |
| Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC put it to her: "Mock sessions – and they were going to ask Mr Mandelson to see if he will come and help." | Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC put it to her: "Mock sessions – and they were going to ask Mr Mandelson to see if he will come and help." |
| Brooks responded: "Lord Mandelson had set up an advice company, a public affairs company." Edis pressed her on the point: "He was going to be coaching for your appearance on TV because the select committee would be televised." | Brooks responded: "Lord Mandelson had set up an advice company, a public affairs company." Edis pressed her on the point: "He was going to be coaching for your appearance on TV because the select committee would be televised." |
| The former News International boss said that in the event the session was cancelled because the select committee had in the meantime summoned James and Rupert Murdoch to appear. Originally, the plan was she was going to appear alone, but as the crisis enveloping News International intensified this changed. | The former News International boss said that in the event the session was cancelled because the select committee had in the meantime summoned James and Rupert Murdoch to appear. Originally, the plan was she was going to appear alone, but as the crisis enveloping News International intensified this changed. |
| On 15 July 2011, the Friday after the News of the World closed, circumstances changed again after Brooks was told she was of interest to the police. | On 15 July 2011, the Friday after the News of the World closed, circumstances changed again after Brooks was told she was of interest to the police. |
| She has told the trial previously that she was "marched out" of the building that day and was told by News International she would no longer have its assistance for her select committee appearance. | She has told the trial previously that she was "marched out" of the building that day and was told by News International she would no longer have its assistance for her select committee appearance. |
| Revelations about Mandelson's potential involvement comes just weeks after it emerged that Tony Blair had been offering personal advice to Brooks the day after the News of the World closed. | Revelations about Mandelson's potential involvement comes just weeks after it emerged that Tony Blair had been offering personal advice to Brooks the day after the News of the World closed. |
| According to an email from Brooks to James Murdoch, Blair advised her to hold a "Hutton-style inquiry" that would "clear" her. She also said that in an hour-long conversation, he offered to be available to as an "unofficial adviser" to her, James and Rupert Murdoch, but that "needs to be between us". | According to an email from Brooks to James Murdoch, Blair advised her to hold a "Hutton-style inquiry" that would "clear" her. She also said that in an hour-long conversation, he offered to be available to as an "unofficial adviser" to her, James and Rupert Murdoch, but that "needs to be between us". |
| In the email, Brooks said the former prime minister told her to "tough up", advising her the crisis would pass and she should not make any rash short-term decisions. He also told her to "keep strong" and appeared to suggest she should take sleeping pills to keep a clear head. | In the email, Brooks said the former prime minister told her to "tough up", advising her the crisis would pass and she should not make any rash short-term decisions. He also told her to "keep strong" and appeared to suggest she should take sleeping pills to keep a clear head. |
| The email was sent at 4.20pm on 11 July 2011, the day after the News of the World closed and seven days after the Guardian disclosed that the tabloid had hacked the voicemail messages of the missing Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler, triggering a chain reaction of further revelations and political outcry. | The email was sent at 4.20pm on 11 July 2011, the day after the News of the World closed and seven days after the Guardian disclosed that the tabloid had hacked the voicemail messages of the missing Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler, triggering a chain reaction of further revelations and political outcry. |
| Brooks denies four charges that she was part of a conspiracy to hack phones, pervert the course of justice and corrupt public officials by sanctioning unlawful payments for stories. | Brooks denies four charges that she was part of a conspiracy to hack phones, pervert the course of justice and corrupt public officials by sanctioning unlawful payments for stories. |
| The former chief executive has been in the witness box for 13 days. | The former chief executive has been in the witness box for 13 days. |
| Only three defendants were present in the dock on Wednesday. | Only three defendants were present in the dock on Wednesday. |
| The jury were told that one of them, Mark Hanna, the News International head of security, had been "diagnosed with a fractured skull". | |
| Hanna has been in the dock virtually every single day since the trial began four months ago. | Hanna has been in the dock virtually every single day since the trial began four months ago. |
| Clive Goodman, the News of the World's former royal editor, and the former NoW managing editor Stuart Kuttner, were also absent - their presence in the dock has been intermittent because of medical issues. | Clive Goodman, the News of the World's former royal editor, and the former NoW managing editor Stuart Kuttner, were also absent - their presence in the dock has been intermittent because of medical issues. |
| All defendants have denied all charges against them. | All defendants have denied all charges against them. |
| The trial continues. |