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Phone hacking: MPs summons Murdochs Phone hacking: MPs summons Murdochs
(40 minutes later)
News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch have been summonsed to appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on Tuesday.News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch have been summonsed to appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on Tuesday.
But as US citizens, Rupert Murdoch, who has declined a request to attend the Commons media committee, and his son James, who has offered to go on another day, cannot be forced to appear.But as US citizens, Rupert Murdoch, who has declined a request to attend the Commons media committee, and his son James, who has offered to go on another day, cannot be forced to appear.
News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has agreed to attend.News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has agreed to attend.
Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man has been arrested over phone hacking.Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man has been arrested over phone hacking.
The BBC understands the man is Neil Wallis, the former executive editor of the News of the World. Mr Wallis was arrested by officers from Operating Weeting on Thursday morning and has been taken for questioning at a police station in west London on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.The BBC understands the man is Neil Wallis, the former executive editor of the News of the World. Mr Wallis was arrested by officers from Operating Weeting on Thursday morning and has been taken for questioning at a police station in west London on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.
Neil Wallis, a former member of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee, is the ninth person to be arrested since the Metropolitan Police launched a fresh investigation in January.Neil Wallis, a former member of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee, is the ninth person to be arrested since the Metropolitan Police launched a fresh investigation in January.
US politicians are also demanding a probe into phone hacking allegations. The Murdoch-owned News of the World was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.
Serious questions
On Tuesday, the Commons culture, media and sport committee invited Mrs Brooks and the Murdochs to give evidence at the House of Commons about the phone-hacking scandal.On Tuesday, the Commons culture, media and sport committee invited Mrs Brooks and the Murdochs to give evidence at the House of Commons about the phone-hacking scandal.
In a statement, the MPs said that serious questions had arisen about the evidence Mrs Brooks and Andy Coulson, both of them former News of the World editors, gave at a previous hearing in 2003.In a statement, the MPs said that serious questions had arisen about the evidence Mrs Brooks and Andy Coulson, both of them former News of the World editors, gave at a previous hearing in 2003.
Conservative MP Louise Mensch, who is a member of the committee, said the Murdochs should take the opportunity to appear before it on Tuesday next week. In his letter to committee chairman John Whittingdale, Rupert Murdoch said that although he was not available on Tuesday, he was "fully prepared" to give evidence to the judge-led inquiry announced by David Cameron on Wednesday.
"It would show a little bit of leadership, it would be the first step in lancing this giant boil," she said. James Murdoch offered to appear on an alternative date, the earliest of which was 10 August.
Ms Brooks said she "welcomed the opportunity" to give evidence.
But, in a statement, the MPs said: "The committee has made clear its view that all three should appear to account for the behaviour of News International and for previous statements made to the committee in Parliament, now acknowledged to be false.
"Accordingly, the committee has this morning decided to summon Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch to appear before the Select Committee in Parliament at 2.30pm on Tuesday July 19 2011."
Mr Whittingdale said the Deputy Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons would now deliver the summons to the Murdochs in person.
The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright said the committee expects the Murdochs to have a response ready, which the Deputy Sergeant at Arms will bring back to them.
Our correspondent said if decline to attend the hearing, the matter would then go to the House which could then decide the Murdochs are in contempt of Parliament.
The committee is not clear what happens after that because it has not happened for many years and is taking advice from the Speaker's Council, he added.
The Leader of the House Sir George Young said there were a range of sanctions available if individuals failed to respond to summons to the appear before a select committee including fines and imprisonment, although he said the latter had not been used for some time.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has urged Rebekah Brooks and Rupert and James Murdoch to do the "decent thing" and appear before the committee of MPs. He has also called for "fundamental reform" of the British media, based on the principles of "freedom, accountability, plurality", and called for independent regulation of the press
  • Chief Constable of Surrey Police Mark Rowley has told BBC Surrey he is "immensely frustrated" that because of the Metropolitan Police investigation he is not able to respond to claims his force was aware that murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked
  • The government has published the advice given to Gordon Brown over launching an inquiry into News International, after the ex-prime minister claimed officials talked him out of taking action. Mr Brown said Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell warned him not to start a probe in 2010, as it was too close to a general election
  • Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has urged Rebekah Brooks and Rupert and James Murdoch to do the "decent thing" and appear before the committee of MPs. He has also called for "fundamental reform" of the British media, based on the principles of "freedom, accountability, plurality", and called for independent regulation of the press
On Wednesday Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, whose UK arm - News International - owns the Sun, the Times, the Sunday Times and the now closed News of the World, dropped a bid to take complete control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.On Wednesday Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, whose UK arm - News International - owns the Sun, the Times, the Sunday Times and the now closed News of the World, dropped a bid to take complete control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt had referred News Corporation's bid to acquire the 61% of shares it does not already own in BSkyB to the Competition Commission.
Despite the company's announcement, MPs from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and smaller parties backed a Labour motion condemning the plans without the need for a vote.
Slowly but surely the phone-hacking scandal is crossing the Atlantic - as members of Congress demand action on two fronts.
First, there's a call for the FBI to investigate whether journalists broke wiretap laws by targeting the phones of Americans.
It follows a report that the News of the World approached a New York police officer and attempted to buy the phone records of people who died on 9/11.
One congressman from New York said British reporters appeared to have engaged in "parasitic" behaviour.
The other call is for the Department of Justice and stock- market regulators to investigate reported payments to British police officers.
Potentially, that could expose News International's parent company, News Corporation, to charges under US anti-corruption laws.
With political pressure coming from Democrats and Republicans, a Justice Department spokeswoman said their requests for an investigation were "being reviewed."
The News of the World was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke out in the Commons on Wednesday against alleged law-breaking on an "industrial scale" at News International. He also said there had not been private deals with the company when he was in Downing Street.
Meanwhile, Democratic senator Jay Rockefeller said US authorities should consider whether journalists working for News Corp had broken US law.
Mr Rockefeller, who chairs the Senate's commerce committee, expressed concern that phone hacking may have extended to American targets, including victims of 9/11, although he presented no evidence.
More congressmen, including the first major Republican, Peter King, called for a federal investigation into News Corp's actions.
Others included senators Frank Lautenberg, Robert Menendez and Barbara Boxer.
Rupert Murdoch's American assets include the Wall Street Journal and Fox News.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced the terms of an independent inquiry into the hacking affair, which he said would examine the practices of the press.