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MPs vented their fury at the behaviour of tabloid newspapers this afternoon as the Andy Coulson phone-hacking scandal became the trigger for calls for new Press laws.
A short Commons debate on alleged phone-tapping by the News of the World widened dramatically as MPs demanded action to curb the excesses of some papers.
The development put heavier pressure on Mr Coulson, the Prime Minister's communications adviser, who has denied any knowledge of illegal phone hacking when he was editor of the NoW before 2007.
The Commons voted for an inquiry by the Standards and Privileges Committee into the hacking of MPs' phones, which will also cover whether the police failed in a “duty of care” to alert possible victims.
But several took the opportunity to attack the Press Complaints Commission - which two former ministers dismissed as an ineffective watchdog - and to call for a wider inquiry.
“It is not about one man,” said Labour's Chris Bryant. “It is about what kind of investigative journalism we want in this country.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes, whose phone was hacked, called for a commission to investigate newspaper practices.
“There is a whole sea of illegal and undesirable activity here,” he said.
Tory ex-minister Nicholas Soames said a 2006 report by the Information Commissioner had shown “solid evidence” that illegal practices were rife.
Former Labour minister Tom Watson said News International head Rupert Murdoch should be summoned to give evidence to the House. He said MPs had too often been afraid of the power of “red top” papers to take action.
Mr Coulson is fighting to save his reputation, and his job, and earlier Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg appeared to distance himself from David Cameron's aide.
The Lib-Den leader repeatedly declined to say if he believed the Downing Street aide's vehement denials that he knew about or authorised illegal snooping at the NoW.
“I can only repeat to you what he has said — and that is that he denies these allegations,” he told BBC radio.
Later, after a speech about spending cuts, he was asked if he was personally satisfied with Mr Coulson's account. “He has said very clearly he had no knowledge of these practices at the News of the World,” replied Mr Clegg.
Mr Clegg's stance contrasted with that of David Cameron, whose spokesman, asked the same question, replied: “Yes, absolutely.”
Scotland Yard is preparing to launch a fresh inquiry into the allegations after a series of new witnesses have claimed the illegal news gathering techniques were widely used at the NoW.
Detectives are expected to interview at least three former employees who claim that phone hacking was common practice at the paper while Mr Coulson, now Mr Cameron's communications adviser, was editor from 2003 to 2007.
Yard sources said the latest claims made it “almost inevitable” that prosecutors would agree to a new inquiry.
In new claims today, a former features executive on the Sunday tabloid claimed journalists routinely used private investigators to hack phones and access confidential records when Mr Coulson was editor. Paul McMullan, who now runs a pub in Dover, told The Guardian he personally commissioned private investigators to commit several hundred acts which could be regarded as unlawful but claimed reporters did not believe at the time that it was illegal to hack into voicemail.
“I don't think at the time senior editors at the paper thought it was an issue,” said Mr McMullan. “Everybody was doing it. Coulson would certainly be well aware that the practice was pretty widespread.
“He is conceivably telling the truth when he says he didn't specifically know every time a reporter would do it. I wouldn't have told him. It wasn't of significance for me to say I just rang up David Beckham and listened to his messages. In general terms, he would have known that reporters were doing it.”
Mr McMullan is expected to be interviewed by detectives.
Reader views (14)
Robert London I'm afraid it is you my friend that is totally missing the point. The very people whinging and whining about breaches of THEIR privacy are the very people who passed laws that allow them to do the very same. Laws that force phone companies to keep records, at their expense, of ever call and internet site YOU visit for years. They also passed laws that allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to access these details without the need to go to court so forgive me if I have NO sympathy.
As they are very happy to repeat the old Labour mantra to us the public
" IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR "
There shouldn't be any problem then should there ?
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Thailand, 10/09/2010 00:31
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Nothing to hide, nothing to fear - we have been told repeatedly by MPs, ACPO etc etc.
They don't like it up 'em.
- Chuck Unsworth, london, 09/09/2010 21:52
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Who gives a damn if MPs privacy is invaded?They were happy to rob the public purse and to conceal the extent of their disonesty....it was an aggressive Press who uncovered the extent of their knavery.To see Labour nonentities whining as if they were pillars of respactibilty is nauseating.
- peter doff, filey uk, 09/09/2010 20:11
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It is good, if this is how it reads, that Nick Clegg is not supporting any wrong doings blindly. Re. the above, it's the least someone in government should be seen to be saying (and I do mean seen, can't swear for what someone in these circles really mean when saying anything, and only my little view).
- M, London, 09/09/2010 19:22
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Why does anyone care what the Labour losers want?
- ST, London, 09/09/2010 17:50
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This not a party political issue, nor is it about press freedom. It is about a mess caused by unscrupulous journalists who don't know the difference between investigative journalism and blackmail, or between what is in the public interest and what is simply of salacious interest to the public and who are willing to illegally break into people's private communications for any tit-bit they can find.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 09/09/2010 17:08
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"What are Labour frightened of?
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 09/09/2010 10:55"
You seem to have missed the point. Would you want somebody listening to your private calls.
- Robert, London, 09/09/2010 16:54
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This story is so boring and I do not give a damn about sloppy MP's getting spied on.
- Anglo, Sussex England, 09/09/2010 16:33
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Curbs on tabloids? Coupled with footballer "gagging" injunctions and political correctness, We seem to be loosing the right to a free press and free speech in this country.
- Steve, Hereford, 09/09/2010 16:13
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Alex - London
Hacking mobile voicemail is very easy (depends on network) and costs practically nothing...it is based on caller id spoofing...
- martin_clerkenwell, london, 09/09/2010 15:48
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Why do MPs want more curbs on the tabloid press?. Is it just an excuse to curb the tabloids so as to prevent them exposing their behaviour and the use of public money?. The Criminal Law is very specific, and provides severe punishment, when reporters, or any one else for that matter, are found to have unlawfully 'hacked into' any electronic telephone system. Why do MPs consider they need any 'special' consideration or protection?.
- pete, Croydon, 09/09/2010 15:47
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Good for you Nick Clegg - we have someone with guts ready to show they are capable of standing up and saying what is obvious to most of us. Coulson is a liar and shouldn't be anywhere near Government. I didn't vote for him, did you?
- Rod, Epping, UK, 09/09/2010 15:29
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What are Labour frightened of?
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 09/09/2010 10:55
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Here's a good question for Andy Coulson:
The hacking system cost a lot of money which the NoW must have paid for (private eyes, electronic surveyance people). As Editor, Coulson must have approved all expenses incurred by the editorial staff. That is common practice on News International newspapers. So how come Andy didn't notice these charges as they crossed his desk? I would love to hear his explanation.
- Alex, London, 09/09/2010 10:28
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