Bryant to demand phone-hacking answers
By politics.co.uk staff
A Labour MP will demand answers about the News of the World phone-hacking scandal later this week.
Chris Bryant has tabled a speech in the Commons to discuss evidence of widespread phone-hacking at the NOTW. There will be a formal government response to his comments and a subsequent debate.
The revelations that journalists illegally intercepted celebrities’ resulted in the jailing of royal editor Clive Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire in 2007.
Since then evidence has emerged that the practice was more extensive, prompting doubt on the depth of Scotland Yard’s original investigation.
Mr Bryant, who thinks he was a victim of hacking, has been critical of the conduct police investigation. The shadow cabinet minister is seeking a judicial review because Scotland Yard did not inform him that he was a likely victim.
Mr Bryant told the Independent the original investigation raised questions about the conduct of the Met.
“It has become apparent that the extent of phone hacking is greater than either News Corporation or the News of the World have admitted to. Indeed, it would seem it was far more substantial than that found by the original investigation that the Metropolitan Police could be bothered to mount,” he said.
He said there had been a “political aspect” to the investigation.
“What was the purpose behind all this phone hacking? Ultimately, I think its purpose was murky and nefarious. It raises questions of just who runs Britain.”
