Murdoch hacking scandal: the facts they wish you didnt know

The UK ruling class is in disarray. Its web of corruption, bribery and lies are exposed—and it just keeps getting worse. Simon Basketter looks at the key things we’ve learnt this weekDavid Cameron has had more than 26 meetings with senior figures from Rupert Murdoch’s media empire since becoming prime minister. (For a full list of Cameron’s dinners with the media and his guests at Chequers, his private residence, go to wwww.socialistworker.co.uk)Andy Coulson was Cameron’s guest at Chequers in March—two months after disgraced Coulson resigned over phone hacking allegations.Rebekah Brooks was invited to Chequers twice last year, and James Murdoch...

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Former City Slicker reporter offers evidence for public inquiry, alleging phone hacking was widespread at Mirror and People

Phone hacking was not confined to the News of the World but was widespread at other newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, a former Mirror reporter has claimed.James Hipwell, who worked as a financial journalist under the editorship of Piers Morgan, said the practice was "seen as a bit of a wheeze" and offered to give evidence to the public inquiry into hacking ordered by David Cameron.Hacking also took place at other titles in the newspaper group, including the People, he alleged."You know what people around you are doing," he told the Independent. "They would call a celebrity with one phone and when it was answered they would then hang up."By that stage, the other phone would be into [the celebrity's] voicemail and they would key in the code, 9999 or 0000. I saw that a lot."He added: "It...

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Piers is in a piss storm of woe over the phone hacking scandal that may make CNN wish they could fold him into an airmail envelope and mail him back to whence he came

Piers is in a piss storm of woe over the phone hacking scandal that may make CNN wish they could fold him into an airmail envelope and mail him back to whence he came. From the Guardian UK:Phone hacking also rife under Piers Morgan at Mirror, claims ex-reporterOh dear. Perhaps it's all an innocent misunderstanding, but it appears many more worms will be emerging from the woodwork before this clusterphuck has run its course. If we can't send him back to Britain, is there someplace else we can send h...

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Amy Winehouse, the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead Saturday in her London home

Amy Winehouse, the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead Saturday in her London home, police said. She was 27.Winehouse shot to fame with the album "Back to Black," whose blend of jazz, soul, rock and classic pop was a global hit. It won five Grammys and made Winehouse — with her black beehive hairdo and old-fashioned sailor tattoos — one of music's most recognizable stars.Police confirmed that a 27-year-old female was pronounced dead at the home in Camden Square northern London; the cause of death was not immediately known. London Ambulance Services said Winehouse had...

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British actor Rhys Ifans, who portrays the villain Lizard in the upcoming Hollywood movie "The Amazing Spider-Man," was arrested and cited for battery

British actor Rhys Ifans, who portrays the villain Lizard in the upcoming Hollywood movie "The Amazing Spider-Man," was arrested and cited for battery at the pop culture gathering Comic-Con Friday evening."He was abusive, belligerent and aggressive, and shoved a female security guard," San Diego police spokeswoman Lt. Andra Brown said in a statement Saturday.Brown told Reuters a member of Ifans' "entourage" did not have proper identification to enter Comic-Con, a gathering of science-fiction fans and comic book lovers. for a promotional event to tout the upcoming "Spider-Man" movie.Story: A 'Twilight' dawn breaks over Comic-ConIfans used his hand to push his way past security, Brown said. He cursed the staff, hurled insults at the United States and loudly complained: "I don't live here," she...

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Cameron faces mounting pressure over hackgate fiasco

David Cameron has returned from his trade mission to Nigeria amidst a media frenzy, as the phone-hacking scandal that has come to embroil the Murdochs’ media empire and the Metropolitan Police edges higher in government.It emerged from yesterday’s hearing that the then leader of the opposition’s communications guru, Andy Coulson, had been advised by the editor of sacrificed paper the News of the World, Neil Wallis.Both men have now been arrested for their apparent complicity in the scandal and focus is now likely to turn to the Prime Minister, who may face a similar select committee hearing.Their connection will be under deep scrutiny following...

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Piers Morgan seeks apology over hacking claim

Former tabloid editor Piers Morgan has demanded an apology from an MP who made claims about him admitting to phone hacking, at the London hearing which quizzed Rupert Murdoch.In an angry on-air exchange, Morgan, who is now a celebrity interviewer for US television news network CNN, challenged Member of Parliament Louise Mensch to repeat her claim that he had "boasted" of phone hacking in a book about his tabloid editor days.She declined to do so, saying she had been covered by parliamentary privilege -- which protects her from legal action for anything said inside parliament -- a protection which does not apply if she repeats the words elsewhere.In...

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Former Olympic 100m champion Linford Christie crashed head on into a taxi with two newly-weds inside while driving the wrong way up the A413 in Buckinghamshire, a court has heard.

The 51-year-old former athlete, from Twickenham, denies dangerous driving in Chalfont St Peter on 8 May last year.Mr Christie clambered from his badly-damaged Audi A8 after the collision, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.Soon after he said: "Oh my God, it's all my fault", the jury was told.Mr Christie was driving towards Amersham when he found himself on the wrong side of the A413, the court heard.Eight seconds later, his car - with the personalised number plate 100 RUN - hit a silver Mercedes travelling in the opposite direction.Dragged from taxiThe taxi was propelled on to a grass verge, while the Audi came to a halt in the middle of the carriageway.Mr Christie, who had recently moved to the area and was on his way back to his girlfriend's home, was able to walk away from his vehicle but newly...

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Cheryl Cole has cancelled the 'family' get-together she planned to attend with former husband Ashley Cole.

Cheryl Cole has cancelled the 'family' get-together she planned to attend with former husband Ashley Cole.The singer thought her love cheat ex had changed his ways but is now furious that Ashley is still acting like a single man.Air stewardess Kerry Meades, 29, alleges she slept with the footballer in LA in June.'Just as Cheryl's getting back on track and working really hard on her music, he does this. She's humiliated,' says a source. 'Ashley had organised a family gathering, a barbecue, for when he got back from pre-season training in the Far East.'This has now been scrapped.'But Cheryl, who's demanded Ashley, 30, deletes her number, isn't...

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George Michael has called Jeremy Clarkson a 'pig-ugly homophobe' after the Top Gear presenter made jokes at his expense on the hit BBC show.

Earlier this month Michael had joked the show needed to camp it up, posting a video of a pink car on Twitter and urging Clarkson to buy one.On Sunday’s episode of Top Gear, Clarkson appeared to make a joke about the Wham! singer’s sexual habits, saying while reviewing the new Jaguar XKRS.He said: ‘It’s very fast and very, very loud.‘And then in the corners it will get its tail out more readily than George Michael.’Michael denied he had been trying to rile Clarkson, saying: ‘That's sooo funny! I wasn't trying to have a go at good old Jeremy! I said I sounded I sounded like him with someone's finger up his arse!!'In other words I thought I sounded...

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Rupert Murdoch was pelted with a white foam during his appearance before MPs today.

Mr Murdoch's wife Wendi and his son James jumped to his defence as the attack was launched as the final questions were being asked by MPs.The hearing was suspended as a man wearing a checked shirt with what appeared to be foam splashed across his face was detained by police.Mr Murdoch, 80, was apparently pelted with a plate of foam.MP Chris Bryant condemned the attack in which he said the media mogul had the plate pushed into his face.James Murdoch was in mid-sentence as the attacked was launched.Wendi Murdoch, who had sat behind her husband throughout his appearance before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, appeared to strike back...

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Pop group Take That have been forced to cancel a show for the first time in their lengthy career after Robbie Williams suffered a bout of food poisoning

.The singer became violently ill on Friday night and was unable to recover in time to perform at Saturday night's gig in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to the reformed group.A statement released by the group said it was "truly devastated" that the show did not go ahead."This is the first show that we have ever had to cancel in our career as a band," it said. "It was a horrible decision to make and one we agonised over."On Friday night, Rob suffered serious food poisoning from something he had eaten after the show. He was violently ill all night and well into the morning."The band said the singer's dressing room was relocated to the stadium on...

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An air-hostess claimed she slept with Ashley Cole just days before he flew back to London for ex-wife Cheryl’s birthday.

But shortly before her bash, where the couple made a very public reunion in front of their family and friends, the singer was left stunned when her ex-husband Ashley Cole asked her to re-marry him, it has been claimed.According to The People, Chelsea and England player Ashley called Cheryl last Wednesday at a hotel in Los Angeles and asked her if she wanted to tie the knot again. Speaking out: Air hostess Kerry Meades has claimed she enjoyed a series of romps with Ashley Cole around time he asked Cheryl to remarry him, it has been claimedA source told the paper: ‘Yes he did decide to ask Cheryl to marry him again, it’s true.’But now the Girls Aloud singer has now been dealt a fresh blow with the claims of Virgin Atlantic steward Kerry Meades who alleges that she bedded the footballer while...

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DMX's Rep Slams Drug Smuggling Reports

A representative for DMX has blasted reports the embattled rapper has been caught sneaking drugs into prison, insisting he has "never" smuggled anything into his cell. The hip-hop star, real name Earl Simmons, was due to walk free from an Arizona correctional facility on Wednesday after serving seven months behind bars for a probation violation. However, his release date has been postponed until next week following allegations he committed seven disciplinary infractions throughout his time behind bars. Official records obtained by TMZ.com show the star had been found guilty of possessing drugs or narcotics, failing or refusing a drug test, disrespecting staff, smoking when not authorized, and being disruptive and disorderly. Nonetheless, DMX's spokesperson has challenged the smuggling claims...

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Incarcerated rapper Lil Boosie is facing extra time behind bars after he was accused of attempting to smuggle drugs into his prison cell for the second time in two months.

The hip-hop star, real name Torrence Hatch, is currently serving a four-year sentence for drug and gun possession and violating parole from a previous conviction.He is also due to stand trial next month after pleading not guilty to a first-degree murder charge relating to a 2009 shooting in Louisiana.But his legal woes have gone from bad to worse after he was indicted for reportedly conspiring to get hold of codeine syrup behind bars at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.He has been charged with one count of criminal conspiracy to take contraband to and from a penal institution, and another of inciting a felony.The new allegations could land Hatch an additional five years in prison, according to AllHipHop.c...

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Rebekah Brooks has been arrested by police investigating allegations of phone hacking by the News of the World and allegations that police officers were bribed to leak sensitive information

.The Metropolitan police said a 43-year-old woman was arrested at noon on Sunday, by appointment at a London police station.Brooks, 43, resigned on Friday as News International's chief executive. She is a former News of the World editor and was close to Rupert Murdoch and the prime minister, David Cameron.A spokesman for Brooks said she did not know she was going to be arrested when she handed in her resignation.Brooks was taken into custody at midday on Sunday, after agreeing to attend a London police station for questioning. Her spokesman, Bell Pottinger chairman David Wilson, said she did not know she was to meet with police until late on...

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Is CNN's Piers Morgan the next to fall in the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal?

CNN, which has given the scandal plenty of play, is starting to face questions about its treatment of allegations implicating its own Larry King replacement.Seems Morgan was once an editor of the News of the World, the British tabloid that started all of this -- though his alleged improprieties were during his tenure as editor of a different tabloid: the Daily Mirror.On Monday, a British politics blog titled Guido Fawkes claimed Morgan condoned hacking during his editorship."James 'Scottie' Scott, the Daily Mirror's showbiz reporter at the time, was listening into (English TV star) Ulrika Jonsson's voicemails when he was flummoxed by messages...

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Amy Winehouse has been forced to change her cell phone number

Amy Winehouse has been forced to change her cell phone number because her jailed ex-husband Blake Fielder-civil has allegedly been hounding the star with calls.The troubled Rehab hitmaker divorced Fielder-Civil in 2009 after two years of marriage, and he has since moved on with fiancee Sarah Aspin, who gave birth to their first child, son Jack, earlier this year (11).Aspin claims Winehouse has been constantly trying to contact Fielder-Civil and has sent him a string of saucy text messages in recent weeks - and she's had enough.She tells Britain's The Sun, "She needs to keep her hands off him. He is mine and we are a family now. I've had enough...

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JLo's 'bare all' plans spoilt marriage

Looks like Jennifer Lopez's new role in 'What To Expect When You're Expecting', where she is due to strip off in, might have been a reason behind her shocking break-up with Marc Anthony after seven years of marriage. Reports suggested earlier this week that Lopez, 41, would be baring almost all in the comedy film, based on the pregnancy book of the same name. "According to the script, Jennifer's character, Holly, bares her breasts to help convince her husband, played by Rodrigo Santoro, that they need to adopt a baby boy," the Daily Mail quoted a source as telling Life And Style magazine. It is not only in this movie that she is going nude, as Lopez is apparently also planning to get racy alongside Jason Statham in crime thrilled 'Parker'. While it remains to be seen whether the roles had...

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Rebekah Brooks has been arrested by officers investigating allegations of corruption and phone hacking.

The 43-year-old went to a London police station by appointment at midday today and is being held on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and corruption allegations.Operation Weeting has been launched to investigate claims that newspaper journalists hacked into the phones of high-profile figures and even victims of crime.Mrs Brooks resigned as chief executive of News International (NI) on Friday to avoid distracting attention from the company's efforts to "fix the problems of the past".She was editor of the News Of The World (NOTW) when missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked and messages were deleted. The teenager was...

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Sir Paul Stephenson accepted £12,000 freebie while both he and Champneys spa employed ex-NoW deputy editor Neil Wallis

Britain's top police officer, Sir Paul Stephenson, who is under fire for hiring the former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis as his PR adviser, reportedly accepted 20 nights free of charge at the luxury health spa Champneys earlier this year.The revelations, published on the front page of the Sunday Times, will pile further pressure on the Metropolitan police commissioner, who has been under attack since he admitted employing Wallis on a fee of £1,000 a day, just hours after the former News International executive's arrest last week in connection with the phone-hacking inquiry.The revelations are particularly damaging for Stephenson...

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Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks is in line for a seven-figure severance package after resigning.

Senior colleagues have estimated her pay-off will be in the region of be around £3.5m.The size of the figure will leave a nasty taste in the mouths of the journalists who blame her for losing heir jobs following the collapse of the News of the World.The final editor of the paper, Colin Myler, is also set to to be in line for a bumper pay-off - estimated at £2m after the paper produced its last-ever edition on Sunday.Two of the company's senior lawyers - Jon Chapman and Tom Crone - will both get around £1.5million, the Independent reported today.Les Hinton, 67, chief executive of Dow Jones, the U.S. arm of Murdoch's monopoly and publisher of the...

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Gordon Brown has accused The Sunday Times of blagging

The former prime minister alleged last week the newspaper had used illegal blagging methods to access his bank account and private legal details as it researched an article about his purchase of a flat from Robert Maxwell.In a speech in the Commons, Mr Brown even accused News International of having links to the 'criminal underworld'.The media company emailed the ex-Labour leader with a strong denial of his claims and asked him: 'Where is your evidence for your charge that The Sunday Times paid "known criminals" to work against "completely defenceless people"?'This prompted an angry reaction from Mr Brown, who insisted he had never made that accusation.He said: 'An email from The Sunday Times seeks, among other things, to manufacture claims which were never made and to distort those that were....

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'Sir' Paul Stephenson the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, likes a drop of bubbly you know, especially in the company of his News Corporation cronies.

'Sir' Paul Stephenson the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, likes a drop of bubbly you know, especially in the company of his News Corporation cronies.  Fancying himself as one of the powerful elite too, Stephenson stayed at the swish Champneys in Tring, Hertfordshire while recovering from a broken leg in January this year.  It only cost a mere £12,000 which is a snip in Stephenson's world.  However, one of Stephenson's chums, Neil Wallis, the former deputy editor of the News of the World who was arrested last week in connection with the phone hacking scandal coincidentally managed Champneys. Sir Paul had already courted suspicion over his decision to employ Mr Wallis as a media consultant to the Met police until he quit in September 2010 amid further revelations of phone hacking.  ...

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Royal Theatre leader criticised for protecting ballet dancers by brushing drug problem under rug

The culture minister, Per Stig Møller, has told the Royal Danish Theatre’s leadership on that it needs to deal with the mounting controversy surrounding allegations of widespread cocaine abuse at the Royal Ballet.The culture minister’s comments followed on the heels of sharp criticism on Thursday of Royal Danish Theatre managing director Erik Jacobsen for dismissing the allegations of drug abuse at the Royal Ballet, which falls under his leadership, as “undocumented” rumours.Earlier in the day, Møller himself had also downplayed the controversy, calling the allegations an “internal personnel affair”. Later, however, as criticism from opposition politicians grew, he changed that message and urged Jacobsen to “take care of the problem”. Møller emphasised that he was confident they would deal...

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Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of Rupert Murdoch’s News International, is set to be questioned under police caution over her role in the phone hacking scandal which brought down the News of the World.

Mrs Brooks, who was said to have twice offered to resign and twice been refused, will be asked to explain what she knew about the hacking of mobile phones belonging to celebrities, victims of crime, terrorism and even relatives of soldiers killed in action.Senior executives at News International are understood to have been warned by the Metropolitan Police that their chief executive will be expected to present herself at a London police station to give a full account of the extent of her actions during the period from 2000 to 2003 when she was editor of the now disgraced paper.Mrs Brooks will also be asked to clarify whether she authorised payments...

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David Cameron and Rupert Murdoch are swept up in a public fit of morality

No scandal is a scandal until the suffix “-gate” is applied to it, and on Thursday’s Newsnight, it was none other than Bob Woodward, half of the original Watergate reporting team, who christened the News of the World hacking story “Rupert-gate”. The closure of Britain’s highest-selling newspaper would never have happened without the tenacity of the Guardian. But, in truth, All the Proprietor’s Men was an astonishing role reversal in which politicians did for the press, as the press has so often done for them.In this case, the equivalent of Woodward and his collaborator Carl Bernstein were Tom Watson, the Labour MP for West Bromwich East, and Chris Bryant, who represents Rhondda. In public perception, Andy Coulson is John Dean, the White House counsel who was the initial scapegoat. James Murdoch...

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Robbie Williams blasted for bad language in Take That live shows

THE Take That tour may be a complete sell-out – but the Robbie Williams’ solo section has caused a mini-walkout. Families have stormed off in protest at his foul-mouthed outbursts and crude gestures, which they say don’t fit with the rest of the family-friendly show. The singer, 37, emerged on stage for his five-song solo stint on Tuesday night at Wembley Stadium and said: “Can’t believe you’re f****** here.” He then imitated rolling a cannabis joint before repeatedly sticking two fingers up at the rain-drenched crowd. The star, who gets to play on his own every night on the Progress tour while his bandmates remain backstage, then said:...

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I'd rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can

HOLLYWOOD super chef Gwyneth Paltrow shocked viewers by telling Jonathan Ross: “I’d rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can” on stage this week. The foodie, 38, was chatting about her cookbook at the Roundhouse Studios for the iTunes festival on Tuesday when she revealed she’s banned her kids from McDonald’s. “I take them to Pizza Express because I think that’s much healthier,” she said. “Don’t tell them there are toys!” Sidestepping questions about her hubby, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Gwynnie, who says she can “eat any man under a table”, revealed plans to start a channel of cookery programmes on an iPhone app – but you might wanna...

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Pete Doherty has been released from prison after serving just SIX WEEKS of a six-month sentence.

The rocker, 32, was jailed on May 20 for possessing cocaine - his third jail stint related to his drug use. He had been filmed smoking a crack pipe with heiress Robyn Whitehead, 27, just days before she died of a drug overdose. The society beauty had been making a documentary about Libertines frontman Doherty. His release from London's Pentonville has been branded an insult to her family. Kate Moss's ex-boyfriend announced his freedom on Tuesday in a cheery message on his website. The note read: "On this bright sunny morning Peter was released from prison and thanks everyone for their valued support." A friend said last night: "Pete is over...

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Cheryl Cole has allegedly told her ex husband Ashley that he will need to spend some money if he wants her back.

The former X Factor judge has reportedly said she wants a brand new family home, a custom-built recording studio and a diamond ring if he wants to marry her. The Girls Aloud singer's wish list is said to include a home in Los Angeles, a `top secret' wedding ceremony abroad and "no-expense-spared" second honeymoon. A source supposedly told The Sun: "If Cheryl is to face public scrutiny over taking Ashley back, she wants to know he's prepared to put his money where his mouth is. "Ashley has got no choice. He may have got Cheryl back but it comes at a significant price." The Chelsea defender is also thought to be looking at holiday homes in...

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Ten alleged lovers of the footballer Rio Ferdinand were named at the High Court in London yesterday.

The women were included in official court documents after Ferdinand launched a legal battle over claims by a lover that she had a 13-year-affair with the Manchester United star. Ferdinand, 32, has brought his case for misuse of private information over a Sunday Mirror article in which interior designer Carly Storey gave her account of their 13-year relationship in return for £16,000. His QC, Hugh Tomlinson, said his client should be awarded a maximum of £50,000 damages if he wins his privacy action, the High Court heard. Mr Tomlinson, said he would also seek a worldwide "contra mundum" injunction if the England and Manchester United centre back...

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Relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan may have been victims of News of the World phone hacking, lawyers said tonight.

The Ministry of Defence was seeking clarification from Scotland Yard as sources said families of dead servicemen were being contacted by detectives over the scandal.News International said it would be "absolutely appalled and horrified" if there was any truth in the allegations and it would be immediately contacting the MoD.MPH Solicitors - whose clients include Samantha Roberts, widow of one of the first Britons killed in Iraq in 2003 - said they were called today."We have been contacted this morning in connection with a possible phone-hacking on our clients, and Geraldine McCool, arising out of high-profile military inquests in 2006/2007," a statement said."We are making efforts to verify this information."A News International spokesman said: "News International's record as a friend of the...

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