British MPs to rule on Murdoch version in hacking inquiry

MPs in the UK will rule on whether James Murdoch told them the truth about when he was informed of the extent of phone hacking at the News of the World.

The News International boss rejected claims by two of his former executives that they told him in 2008 about an email revealing that the practice went beyond a single “rogue reporter”.

Mr Murdoch was described by Labour MP and phone-hacking campaigner Tom Watson as a “Mafia boss” as he made a stormy second appearance before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee today.

He rejected the description but apologised “unreservedly” to Mr Watson over New International’s hiring of a private investigator to spy on the politician.

The media boss said he “disputed vigorously” the version of events put forward by former News of the World editor Colin Myler and News International legal chief Tom Crone, who say they made him aware of the contents of the famous “For Neville” email.

He accused the pair of giving “misleading” evidence to the committee about what they told him at a June 2008 meeting to discuss settling a legal claim brought by Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor over phone hacking.

Culture Committee chairman John Whittingdale said the MPs would now have to decide whether to believe Mr Murdoch or Mr Crone and Mr Myler.

“It is plain that the two accounts we’ve heard, one of them cannot be true,” he told reporters after the hearing.