U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior politicians with links to Rupert Murdoch's media group News International are likely to be called to give evidence before the commission set up to inquire into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.
Mr. Murdoch and his son James, chairman of News International, will be questioned under oath for their role in the murky saga which forced the company's chief executive and former NoW Editor, Rebekah Brooks, to resign and prompted calls for criminal investigation into the affairs of the Murdoch-owned businesses in America.
Both have denied knowledge of any wrong doing.
The inquiry by the judge Lord Justice Leveson will examine media ethics in Britain and the “practice and pressures of investigative journalism”.
Other high-profile figures likely to be summoned include Mr. Cameron's former communications chief Andy Coulson who quit earlier this year following fresh questions about his role in phone-hacking when he was Editor of NoW . He was arrested recently but released on bail.
Mr. Cameron hired Mr. Coulson when he left the paper after its royal correspondent was jailed for hacking phones of members of the royal family. The Prime Minister has been criticised for his “judgement” in hiring Mr. Coulson and has been under pressure to explain whether proper background checks were run on the former tabloid Editor before inducting him into Downing Street.
Mr. Cameron and some of his senior colleagues have also been criticised for their close links with the Murdochs and News International executives.
According to media reports “dozens” of letters have been sent out to potential witnesses including journalists, police officers, civil servants and politicians of all hues.
“Sources close to the inquiry said Lord Justice Leveson would not be constrained in who he asked to testify, adding that the ‘judge will go where the evidence takes him',” said the Daily Telegraph .
