Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to be called before the ongoing public inquiry into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal to answer questions about his reportedly cosy relationship with Rupert Murdoch and his media group, the News International, which published the defunct NoW .
The inquiry is also expected to call Mr. Murdoch, his newspaper The Times reported on Tuesday.
Downing Street said Mr. Cameron was willing to appear if he was called.
“A request has not yet been received. If asked, the Prime Minister would of course attend,” said a spokesperson.
Mr. Cameron's close relationship with Mr. Murdoch and his newspapers has been under scrutiny ever since the Murdoch newspapers switched support from Labour to the Conservative Party at the last general election.
In a front-page report, The Times said Mr. Cameron was expected to be asked about his controversial decision to hire a former NoW editor Andy Coulson as his media chief despite warnings about his links to the hacking allegations.
Mr Coulson was forced to resign in January last year after police reopened investigation into the scandal. He was arrested and is on bail.
The paper said that Mr Cameron was also expected to be questioned about his friendship with Rabekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was also arrested last summer over her alleged role in the hacking affair.
It said the inquiry, was “99.9 per cent certain” to summon Mr Cameron.
“I can't see how you can look at the relationship between the press and the politicians without talking to top politicians including the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition,'' it said quoting a source.
