Clifford: Murdoch closed NOTW to protect media empire

Publicist Max Clifford said the News of the World was closed to protect the reputation of Rupert Murdoch's wider media empire, which includes newspapers and TV stations around the world.

“I think the cancer, in News International terms, was too deep and had spread too far to be checked. So they let the patient die because it couldn’t be saved,” he said.

“They were obviously aware of not only the tremendous damage done to the News of the World but also News International by recent allegations.

“My belief is that there is a lot more to come – I think that is why the decision was taken to pull the plug.”

Mr Clifford himself brought a private case against the News of the World over the hacking of his phone and received a reported settlement of £1m (€1.2m).

Having worked with the paper for 40 years, he said he had a “love-hate relationship” with it.

“I just feel very sorry for (editor) Colin Myler and the staff of the News of the World who had absolutely nothing to do with any of these things. They are paying the price for their predecessors,” he said.

“But you can totally understand why they have done what they have done because they are hoping the pressure will now ease off News International.”

Mr Clifford said he would buy a copy of the final News of the World on Sunday and predicted it would be “the biggest edition for years, if not forever”.