This article was migrated from an old version of our website in 2025. As a result, it might have some low-quality images or non-functioning links - if there's any issues you'd like to see fixed, get in touch with us at info@journalism.co.uk.

There used to be something here that couldn't be migrated - please contact us at info@journalism.co.uk if you'd like to see this updated!

MPs in the House of Commons have unanimously supported an investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World by the standards and privileges committee.

A request for an emergency debate on the matter by Labour MP Chris Bryant was granted by the Speaker, following the claims made in the New York Times last week that phone hacking was rife at the tabloid. Bryant opened the debate by voicing his concerns about the interception of MP's voice messages in particular.

He said he was concerned that we have only seen the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to the hacking of politician's phones, calling for the matter to be investigated by the committee as a breach of parliamentary privilege.

"I contend that it is a contempt of Parliament, a severe breach of parliamentary privilege, to intercept the messages of a member of this house."

"I would urge every Honourable and Right Honourable member who has any suspicion that they might possibly have been a person of interest to Mr Mulcaire and that probably includes the vast majority of us, to write to the Met to ask whether they were included," he added.

Also speaking in favour of the motion, Labour MP Paul Farrelly referred to the work of the culture, media and sport select committe which he sat on during its own investigation into allegations of phone hacking at the tabloid .

He added that the committee had been "highly critical" of the extent of the police investigation and that it remained "incredulous" in response to claims by Andy Coulson, then-editor of the News of the World and now Downing Street director of communications, that he had no knowledge of phone hacking during his time at the newspaper.

Farelly said it was unacceptable that police have not contacted all the people whose numbers appeared during the investigation and that police still claim there were only a handful of victims.

Former Labour minister Tom Watson also spoke in support of the motion, suggesting the matter should be passed to the standards and privileges committee because unlike the culture, media and sport select committee it had the power to call witnesses. He added that a new inquiry should call on witnesses including the chairman of News International Rupert Murdoch and former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, who previously refused to give evidence.

Watson stated that since the matter was raised in the House of Commons on Monday, he has heard that two MPs have found out their phones were hacked and that others have "serious concerns".

The News of the World released a statement, claiming the matter has become "intensely partisan".

"Amidst a swirl of untethered allegations, there should be no doubt that the News of the World will investigate any allegation of wrongdoing when presented with evidence.

"As we have always made clear, we have a zero-tolerance approach to wrongdoing and will take swift and decisive action if we have proof."

Standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Nick Clegg defended Coulson and said that the government should not interfere in any new police inquiry .

Image by alancleaver_2000 on Flickr

[

]

Send to a colleague

Written by
Rachel Bartlett

Comments