MPs to grill officer over phone row
A top Scotland Yard officer faces a grilling from MPs on Tuesday over the newspaper phone-hacking row threatening to engulf David Cameron's communications chief.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates is due to be questioned by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee amid intense pressure on Number 10 aide Andy Coulson.
Mr Yates indicated yesterday that he was willing to reopen the investigation into allegations that News of the World reporters accessed mobile phones belonging to public figures, if new evidence was forthcoming.
Mr Coulson, who was editor of the newspaper at the time, has also volunteered to meet officers to discuss the latest claims. He denies any knowledge of the activities - for which the NotW's ex-Royal Editor Clive Goodman and a private detective were jailed in 2007.
Labour upped its attack over the row yesterday, summoning Home Secretary Theresa May to answer questions in the Commons after former NotW journalist Sean Hoare claimed Mr Coulson knew that illegal tactics were being used.
Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said he was reassured by the Met when in government last year that they had not received any allegations about other journalists.
The police also pledged to take "all proper steps" to inform victims or suspected victims of phone tapping, he said. "You must subject the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in this case to greater scrutiny in the light of this allegation and the new revelations from the New York Times," he insisted.
A spokesman for Mr Coulson said he had not been contacted by the police but was "happy" to meet with them following Mr Hoare's claims.
"Mr Coulson emphatically denies these allegations. He has, however, offered to talk to officers if the need arises and would welcome the opportunity to give his view on Mr Hoare's claims."
Downing Street said the Prime Minister retained full confidence in Mr Coulson, and that the new allegations made no difference to his position. Mr Cameron is due to return from paternity leave on Tuesday.
