Beyond belief

EACH passing hour brings a shocking new twist to the phone hacking scandal – an irresponsible, indefensible and immoral act of subterfuge that diminishes the excellent investigative journalism of which this country should be proud. Ironically, it is the very best of this practice that is now causing so much discomfort for Rebekah Brooks, the News International chief executive, and others.

These shameful events, compounded by the equally shameful inadequacies of the Metropolitan Police, reached a tipping point when it was claimed that News of the World investigators had hacked into the mobile phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. Other targets are said to include survivors of the July 7 suicide bombings six years ago today.

Voicemail messages of crime victims should never become a tradeable commodity and this was represented by the House of Commons uniting in its condemnation, though political differences do remain and are compounded by News International owner Rupert Murdoch’s complicated relationship with the political establishment, and which must now be causing unease up and down the country.

Given this episode’s ever-changing nature, it would be foolhardy of the Government to be bounced into a decision on News Corporation’s take over of BSkyB until the firm has, at the very least, complied fully with the demands of a police inquiry that has, belatedly, been re-enforced.

All politicians, however, need to tread carefully. It would be regrettable if their desire for a prompt public inquiry compromised the police investigation and the chance of criminal convictions at a later date. That is why the party leaders should work with the Cabinet Secretary and Attorney General in this issue. It is the responsible way forward – and there has been little responsibility, thus far, in this deplorable chain of events.