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21/07/2009
Culture Committee Clashes With NOTW
News of the World (NOTW) lawyers are at loggerheads with a parliamentary committee tasked with investigating claims the paper 'hacked into' private phone calls.
Legal experts representing News International, which owns the tabloid, have claimed an MP sitting on the Culture Committee should not contribute to proceeding due to an ongoing litigation between himself and the Sun, another of the organisation's titles.
Tom Crone is being quizzed by the panel of MPs over the allegations.
Labour MP Tom Watson has accused the lawyers of "attempting to interfere with the work of the committee".
Former NOTW Editor Andy Coulson, who is now a top Tory communications adviser, is to be interviewed by the committee over the allegations of phone tapping.
It is believed hundreds, if not thousands, of public figures were targeted by the paper, something Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of.
He stepped down from the editorship after a royal correspondent was jailed for hacking into the voice messages of staff working for Princes Charles, William and Harry.
Mr Watson made it clear he is currently being represented by libel lawyers Carter Ruck, prompting Mr Crone to lodge a letter of the committee in protest at the MP's inclusion.
"Under Parliamentary rules and also the principles, I think, of natural justice and of Article 6 of the Human Rights Act, it seems to us quite improper that Mr Watson is sitting on this panel, dealing News Group Newspapers Limited, with whom he is in litigation," Mr Crone wrote.
"If he remains, we will be making a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner."
John Whittingdale, Chair of the Committee, said he consulted with the Speakers Council, which identified "no issue" with Mr Watson's presence.
Tory MP Mr Whittingdale said he had left the Conservative Party board, which now employs Mr Coulson.
Incumbent NOTW Editor Colin Myler will also face the panel later.
According to a report by the Guardian, over 3,000 phones were hacked by the Sunday tabloid, among them Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor, who along with two others, received payouts from the News of the World.
Mr Whittingdale said there are many questions for the paper's legal team to answer.
He said Mr Coulson has made clear he "didn't know what was going on".
"We will obviously want to press him on that, we will want him to confirm that was the case, and we'll want to ask him about what was going on in the newspaper which allowed this to go on," Mr Whittingdale added.
(PR/BMcC)
Legal experts representing News International, which owns the tabloid, have claimed an MP sitting on the Culture Committee should not contribute to proceeding due to an ongoing litigation between himself and the Sun, another of the organisation's titles.
Tom Crone is being quizzed by the panel of MPs over the allegations.
Labour MP Tom Watson has accused the lawyers of "attempting to interfere with the work of the committee".
Former NOTW Editor Andy Coulson, who is now a top Tory communications adviser, is to be interviewed by the committee over the allegations of phone tapping.
It is believed hundreds, if not thousands, of public figures were targeted by the paper, something Mr Coulson has denied any knowledge of.
He stepped down from the editorship after a royal correspondent was jailed for hacking into the voice messages of staff working for Princes Charles, William and Harry.
Mr Watson made it clear he is currently being represented by libel lawyers Carter Ruck, prompting Mr Crone to lodge a letter of the committee in protest at the MP's inclusion.
"Under Parliamentary rules and also the principles, I think, of natural justice and of Article 6 of the Human Rights Act, it seems to us quite improper that Mr Watson is sitting on this panel, dealing News Group Newspapers Limited, with whom he is in litigation," Mr Crone wrote.
"If he remains, we will be making a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner."
John Whittingdale, Chair of the Committee, said he consulted with the Speakers Council, which identified "no issue" with Mr Watson's presence.
Tory MP Mr Whittingdale said he had left the Conservative Party board, which now employs Mr Coulson.
Incumbent NOTW Editor Colin Myler will also face the panel later.
According to a report by the Guardian, over 3,000 phones were hacked by the Sunday tabloid, among them Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor, who along with two others, received payouts from the News of the World.
Mr Whittingdale said there are many questions for the paper's legal team to answer.
He said Mr Coulson has made clear he "didn't know what was going on".
"We will obviously want to press him on that, we will want him to confirm that was the case, and we'll want to ask him about what was going on in the newspaper which allowed this to go on," Mr Whittingdale added.
(PR/BMcC)
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