14-07-11, 22:06
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Re: UPDATE-Rupert Murdoch Summonsed by British MPs-FBI Moves in-Newspaper Closed
Phone hacking: Rupert Murdoch summonsed to appear before MPs
Rupert and James Murdoch have been summonsed to attend next week's select committee session on phone hacking
Rupert Murdoch and his son James, who have been summonsed top appear before MPs. Photograph: Sang Tan/AP
MPs have dispatched the deputy serjeant at arms of the House of Commons to Wapping to deliver a summons in person to Rupert Murdoch and his son James to insist they turn up to give evidence to a select committee over the phone- hacking scandal.
John Whittingdale, the chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, outlined the measures being taken to ensure the Murdochs face MPs to answer questions in light of allegations of illegal practices that have to come to light in recent days.
Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News International, agreed on Thursday morning to attend and face MPs at the session being held next Tuesday, though she warned in a letter to the committee that the police investigation into "illegal voicemail interception" meant that it would not be appropriate to discuss the details with MPs to avoid prejudicing the inquiry.
With just one out of three of the senior executives agreeing to appear before the committee session on 19 July MPs took the rare step of issuing a summons to compel the Murdochs to attend.
Whittingdale said select committees had taken such steps against individuals in the past, and they had complied.
"I hope very much that the Murdochs will respond similarly," Whittingdale said.
The Tory MP said he was particularly "anxious" that James Murdoch, who has offered to appear on 10 August, answers questions.
Whittingdale said: "He has stated that parliament has been misled by people in his employment," he said. "We felt that to wait until August was unjustifiable."
Earlier in the day, he explained that Brooks and the Murdochs were the key people to talk to following the allegations of illegal practices that took place in papers in the News International stable.
"We're decided that these three were the most appropriate," said the Tory chair. "If we wanted to talk to others then we might consider that in the future. Murdoch was the chairman of News International in this country until very recently. Rebekah Brooks is the chief executive. They are the people who are directly responsible."
Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, urged all three senior executives to "do the decent thing" and face MPs.
"If they have any shred of sense of responsibility or accountability for their position of power then they should come and explain themselves to the select committee," said Clegg.
Rupert Murdoch wrote a letter to the committee, declining to give evidence in person to next week's session.
"Unfortunately, I am not available to attend the session you have planned next Tuesday," he wrote. "However, I am fully prepared to give evidence to the forthcoming judge-led public inquiry and I will be taking steps to notify those conducting the inquiry of my willingness to do so. Having done this, I would be happy to discuss with you how best to give evidence to your committee."
His son James wrote a separate letter in which he said would not be available to attend the session planned for 19 July, but would be "pleased" to give evidence to the committee on either the 10 or 11 August. "Naturally, if neither of these proves suitable I would be willing to consider any alternative dates you suggest," he wrote.
Only Brooks, a British citizen, bowed to pressure from parliament to take responsibility by attending the parliamentary committee to account for events that took place under her watch.
In a letter confirming her attendance, she wrote: "As you are well aware, the Metropolitan police investigation into illegal voicemail interception continues and we are fully co-operating with that. Aspects of the work to which your committee may wish to refer are likely to be relevant to that investigation. Indeed, the police have already asked us specifically to provide information about those matters."
She went on: "I understand that various select committees have approached the police over time in relation to this and other cases. The police's position has been to co-operate where this did not directly impact on the investigation in question.
"In those cases where it did potentially impact, the police have historically declined to comment at that stage. Our understanding is that this approach has not been challenged.
"Given that we are in the midst of an investigation, and we do not want to prejudice it, I hope you will understand why we feel it would not be appropriate to respond to such questions at present in order to be consistent with [the] police's approach, and that as a result this may prevent me from discussing these matters in detail."
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