War dead families may have been hacked
As it emerges that relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan may have had their phones hacked, the Royal British Legion drops the the News of the World as its campaigning partner.
The Daily Telegraph claimed the phone numbers of relatives of dead service personnel were found in the files of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who was jailed in 2007 for phone hacking members of the royal family.
In response the Royal British Legion said it had been “shocked to the core” by the allegations, adding it would be suspending all relations with the News of the World and reviewing its advertising budget with News International, which also publishes The Sun and The Times.
A spokesman said “We can’t with any conscience campaign alongside the News of the World on behalf of armed forces families while it stands accused of preying on these same families in the lowest depths of their misery.”
The News of the World’s owner News International said it was contacting the Ministry of Defence to verify the claims. It said in a statement it would be “absolutely appalled and horrified” if they were true, while the chief of the defence staff General Sir David Richards told reporters this morning: “if these actions are proved to be verified, I’m appalled. I find it quite disgusting.”
A spokesman for the company said: “News International’s record as a friend of the armed services and of our servicemen and servicewomen, is impeccable.
“Our titles have campaigned in support of the military over many years and will continue to do so. If these allegations are true we are absolutely appalled and horrified. We will be contacting the MoD immediately to try and verify the situation.”
An MoD spokesman said: “This is a matter for the Metropolitan Police who are investigating these allegations.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment whilst this investigation is ongoing.”
It comes after families of 7/7 bombing victims, the family of Milly Dowler, and the parents of murdered Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were told by police they may have also been targeted.
On Wendesday Prime Minister David Cameron said he would hold a public inquiry into the scandal.
Read more about Rebekah Brooks - Murdoch's friend in need
Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News International’s parent company, News Corporation, branded claims of phone hacking at the paper “deplorable and unacceptable”.
But he backed Rebekah Brooks, who edited the News of the World between 2000 and 2003, to continue as chief executive of News International.
In a statement yesterday Mr Murdoch said: “I have made clear that our company must fully and proactively co-operate with the police in all investigations and that is exactly what News International has been doing and will continue to do under Rebekah Brooks’ leadership.
“We are committed to addressing these issues fully and have taken a number of important steps to prevent them from happening again.”
MPs used a three-hour emergency Commons debate yesterday on the revelations to condemn journalistic practices at the NoTW.
Labour MP Tom Watson even demanded the suspension of James Murdoch, Mr Murdoch’s son and the chairman of News International, alleging that he had attempted to pervert the course of justice.
He said: “It is clear now that he personally, without board approval, authorised money to be paid by his company to silence people who had been hacked and to cover up criminal behaviour within his organisation.”
