John Yates called back to home affairs committee

Assistant commissioner John Yates has been called to appear again before the home affairs select committee on Tuesday, after giving "unconvincing evidence" on phone hacking last week.

The committee is already due to hear evidence from the now ex-Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and director of public affairs and internal communication Dick Fedorcio tomorrow.

In an evidence session last week attended by Yates, chairman MP Keith Vaz told the assistant Metropolitan Police commissioner his evidence was "unconvincing" and that he "should not regard this as the end of the matter".

Today Vaz confirmed that Yates had been recalled to "clarify aspects of his evidence that he gave to the committee".

Vaz was one of several MPs who had already questioned Yates on the force's original 2005/6 phone-hacking investigation and his role in a 2009 review of that investigation.

Today's request for Yates to appear also follows the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson as Metropolitan Police commissioner yesterday.

Stephenson was facing criticism for the hiring of former News of the World executive Neil Wallis by the Metropolitan Police as a PR advisor in 2009.

The Metropolitan Police Authority was said to be discussing the relationships between members of the Met and the press, which Boris Johnson suggested in a BBC interview could specifically include John Yates.

The MPA has declined to comment on the topics of its meeting. The BBC claims a statement will be made shortly on Yates although this has also reportedly been denied by the MPA.

Last week committee members repeatedly questioned Yates over whether his position at the Metropolitan Police remained tenable.

Yates said he had not offered his resignation, replying: "If you're suggesting that I should resign for what News International has done and my small part in it, then I think that is unfair."

At the time of writing, the committee said it is waiting for confirmation on whether Yates will attend tomorrow. A Scotland Yard spokesman said it is believed Yates will attend.

The committee is currently obtaining the final pieces of evidence it requires in order to conclude its inquiry into phone hacking.

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