Clegg calls for review of Murdoch stake in TV company

The Deputy Prime Minister said the phone-hacking scandal had uncovered “murky practices and dodgy relationships” at the heart of Britain’s establishment, and said Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry into the affair provided a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to clean up the media, politics and the police.

He also offered his support to David Cameron, after it emerged that the Prime Minister discussed News Corp’s bid to take over BSkyB in private meetings with executives including chairman Rupert Murdoch and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks. The Prime Minister insists that he did not act as a conduit between News Corp and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Mr Clegg also confirmed that he had questioned Mr Cameron’s decision to appoint former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as Downing Street director of communications after the election.

He stressed that it was Mr Cameron’s decision alone to take his media adviser – who quit in January and was later arrested by police investigating the hacking allegations – into the heart of government.

“He has been very frank and candid about the fact that he takes responsibility for it,” said Mr Clegg.

Meanwhile it was confirmed that Mr Coulson did not have the highest level of security vetting before taking up his Downing Street job.

Unlike Tony Blair’s communications chief Alastair Campbell, who had top-level clearance, Mr Coulson was subjected only to a lower level of vetting, which meant he was not permitted to view the most secret Government files.

It also emerged last night that former News of the World assistant editor Greg Miskiw is returning to the UK from his home in Florida.

He was an editorial executive at the paper at the time some of the alleged offences were carried out.

He said: “I’m returning to the UK voluntarily. My solicitor has been talking to the police for some time now and so I have in effect been in touch with the police. They know where I am and they know I’m returning.”