Les Hinton giving evidence in 2007

Les Hinton said he stands by evidence given to the committee in 2007 (as shown above) and 2009

Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images

The former executive chairman of News International Les Hinton has been called to give evidence on phone hacking to the culture, media and sport select committee.

Hinton resigned from News Corporation in July, at which point he was chief executive officer of Dow Jones and publisher of the Wall Street Journal.

The committee also announced today it would call media lawyer Mark Lewis to appear before the committee. Lewis represented football boss Gordon Taylor in his phone hacking lawsuit against the News of the World and currently represents the family of Milly Dowler, who are suing the News of the World over claims that a private investigator hacked into her voicemail while she was missing in March 2002.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Hinton said he had watched the events at the News of the World unfold "with sorrow" from New York.

"That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant and in the circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corporation and apologise to those hurt by the actions of News of the World."

According to reports, he wrote a letter to MPs last week to say he stood by evidence he gave to the culture committee in 2007 and 2009 on the matter.

He was also said to have dismissed allegations Goodman was offered his job back as he did not implicate the company.

The committee today confirmed it had also called law firm Farrer & Co to give evidence.

Once these three parties have given evidence the committee will then invite James Murdoch, chairman of News International, to appear again following allegations evidence he gave earlier this year was not entirely accurate, an accusation he has denied.

The committee said no date has been set but that this is likely to take place some time in November.
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