James Murdoch is to step down as executive chairman of News International to focus on expanding international TV businesses, the company announced today.

James Murdoch said today he stood by his evidence to MPs investigating the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.

The former legal chief of News Group Newspapers today told MPs he was “certain” he told James Murdoch about an explosive email which proved that knowledge of phone-hacking was more widespread at the News of the World than the company had claimed.