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Phone hacking: Murdochs agree to appear before MPs Phone hacking: Murdochs agree to appear before MPs
(40 minutes later)
News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch have agreed to appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on Tuesday.News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch have agreed to appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on Tuesday.
The Commons media committee had issued summonses after the men initially declined to appear next week.The Commons media committee had issued summonses after the men initially declined to appear next week.
News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks had agreed to attend.News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks had agreed to attend.
Meanwhile, Neil Wallis, ex-News of the World executive editor, was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.Meanwhile, Neil Wallis, ex-News of the World executive editor, was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.
Mr Wallis, also a former member of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee, is the ninth person to have been arrested since the Metropolitan Police launched a fresh phone-hacking investigation in January.Mr Wallis, also a former member of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee, is the ninth person to have been arrested since the Metropolitan Police launched a fresh phone-hacking investigation in January.
The Murdoch-owned News of the World (NoW) was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.The Murdoch-owned News of the World (NoW) was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.
'Serious questions''Serious questions'
On Tuesday, the Commons culture, media and sport committee had invited the Murdochs and Mrs Brooks to give evidence at the House of Commons about the phone-hacking scandal.On Tuesday, the Commons culture, media and sport committee had invited the Murdochs and Mrs Brooks 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.
In his initial response 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 the government.In his initial response 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 the government.
James Murdoch offered to appear on an alternative date, the earliest of which was 10 August, while Mrs Brooks said she "welcomed the opportunity" to give evidence.James Murdoch offered to appear on an alternative date, the earliest of which was 10 August, while Mrs Brooks said she "welcomed the opportunity" to give evidence.
But after the committee issued summonses on Thursday morning for the men to appear, a few hours later News Corporation announced that the pair would attend the committee meeting.But after the committee issued summonses on Thursday morning for the men to appear, a few hours later News Corporation announced that the pair would attend the committee meeting.
"We are in the process of writing to the select committee with the intention that Mr James Murdoch and Mr Rupert Murdoch will attend next Tuesday's meeting," a spokesman said."We are in the process of writing to the select committee with the intention that Mr James Murdoch and Mr Rupert Murdoch will attend next Tuesday's meeting," a spokesman said.
The summonses were the first to be issued by a parliamentary select committee for almost 20 years, since the sons of the late newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell were ordered to appear in 1992.The summonses were the first to be issued by a parliamentary select committee for almost 20 years, since the sons of the late newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell were ordered to appear in 1992.
Martin Moore, director of the Media Standards Trust charity which campaigned for a public inquiry into phone-hacking, said the Murdochs' appearance before MPs would be "remarkable theatre".Martin Moore, director of the Media Standards Trust charity which campaigned for a public inquiry into phone-hacking, said the Murdochs' appearance before MPs would be "remarkable theatre".
"But I hope that in amongst the theatre that actually we do start to get some answers to the questions that most people will be asking," he said."But I hope that in amongst the theatre that actually we do start to get some answers to the questions that most people will be asking," he said.
Menezes cousinMenezes cousin
Police are contacting about 30 suspected phone-hacking victims a week, the BBC understands, after investigations identified some 4,000 possible targets of the tactic.Police are contacting about 30 suspected phone-hacking victims a week, the BBC understands, after investigations identified some 4,000 possible targets of the tactic.
The family of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead by police in July 2005, says the details of the mobile phone of his cousin were found in documents seized by police.The family of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead by police in July 2005, says the details of the mobile phone of his cousin were found in documents seized by police.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson defended himself over a 2006 dinner with Mr Wallis, who was NoW deputy editor at the time. Questioned by the Metropolitan Police Authority, Sir Paul said he did "not believe that on any occasion I have acted inappropriately. I am very satisfied with my own integrity", but he acknowledged "that the perception could be different"
  • It has also emerged that Mr Wallis was employed as a PR consultant by Scotland Yard from October 2009 to September 2010
  • 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
  • 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
  • Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson defended himself over a 2006 dinner with Mr Wallis, who was NoW deputy editor at the time. Questioned by the Metropolitan Police Authority, Sir Paul said he did "not believe that on any occasion I have acted inappropriately. I am very satisfied with my own integrity", but he acknowledged "that the perception could be different"
  • It has also emerged that Mr Wallis was employed as a PR consultant by Scotland Yard from October 2009 to September 2010
  • 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
  • Business Secretary Vince Cable told the BBC Radio 4 PM programme: "It is a little bit like the end of a dictatorship when everybody suddenly discovers they were against the dictator". He was stripped of his powers on media regulation after he told undercover reporters he had "declared war" on Rupert Murdoch in December 2010.
  • 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
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.