James Murdoch

James Murdoch has been recalled to clarify questions over evidence he gave in his first appearance

Credit: David Cheskin/PA

James Murdoch, the chairman of News International, has agreed to reappear before the culture, media and sport select committee after being recalled to give further evidence on phone hacking.

Committee chairman John Whittingdale confirmed this afternoon that Murdoch was to be recalled.

The committee has said Murdoch will be called to give evidence in a separate session, which is likely to be some time in November, after they have heard from other witnesses also announced today. This includes former executive chairman of News International Les Hinton and media lawyer Mark Lewis.

This decision to recall Murdoch was widely expected after evidence given to the committee by former company executives Colin Myler and Tom Crone contradicted evidence given by Murdoch during his first appearance.

Myler, a former News of the World editor, and Crone, former News International legal manager, accused Murdoch of not correctly remembering being told of an email that suggested phone hacking was more widespread than first thought.

Giving evidence to the committee earlier this month, Myler and Crone insisted they had clearly informed Murdoch of the seriousness of the so-called "For Neville" email.

The pair gave evidence after releasing a joint statement seeking to "clarify" parts of Murdoch's evidence, in which he said he was not aware of the email.

Following Crone and Myler's evidence session, Murdoch issued a statement through News International to say he continued to stand by his testimony that he was not aware of the email.

"I was told by Mr Crone and Mr Myler when we met, in that short meeting, that the civil litigation related to the interception of Mr Taylor's voicemails to which Mulcaire had pleaded guilty the previous year.

"I was informed, for the first time, that there was evidence that Mulcaire had carried out this interception on behalf of the News of the World. It was for this reason alone that Mr Crone and Mr Myler recommended settlement. It was in this context that the evidence was discussed. They did not show me the email, nor did they refer to Neville Thurlbeck.

"Neither Mr Myler nor Mr Crone told me that wrongdoing extended beyond Mr Goodman or Mr Mulcaire.

"As I said in my testimony, there was nothing discussed in the meeting that led me to believe that a further investigation was necessary."

Today a spokesman for News International confirmed that Murdoch has said he is happy to appear before the committee again to answer any further questions its members may have.

The company is currently awaiting further details of any future evidence session.

You can find Journalism.co.uk's live coverage of James Murdoch giving evidence alongside his father, News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, to the committee earlier this year at this link.
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