Phone hacking row deepens
A former News of the World journalist last night claimed using private investigators to hack phones and access confidential records was rife at the newspaper when Downing Street director of communications Andy Coulson was editor.
Speaking to The Guardian, Paul McMullan, a former features executive and member of the Sunday paper’s investigations team, questioned Mr Coulson’s assertion that he was not aware of hacking by staff.
The Guardian said Mr McMullan was one of six former reporters to back up claims that obtaining information by potentially illegal means was rife on the paper – something the News of the World strenuously denies.
His claims came shortly after Mr Coulson was defended in the Commons by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. MPs will discuss the phone-hacking allegations in an emergency debate today.