British ministers face scrutiny over News Corp links

MINISTERS in Britain’s coalition government, criticised for being too close to Rupert Murdoch’s scandal-hit News Corp, face more scrutiny this week when details of their meetings with the company’s executives are published.

News Corp executive James Murdoch is also under pressure over his handling of a phone-hacking scandal that has hit the Murdoch family’s media empire and could jeopardise his own position at the company.

British police are considering a request from opposition Labour politician Tom Watson to investigate claims that the 38-year-old son of News Corp head Rupert Murdoch gave “mistaken” testimony to a parliamentary hearing last week.