MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences”

Dogged News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, has been given the backing of media mogal and News of the World owner, Rupert Murdoch - on the same afternoon that she was accused of misleading parliament.

Andy-Coulson Ms Brooks and David Cameron’s former director of communications, Andy Coulson, were at the centre of this afternoon’s emergency Commons debate on whether a public inquiry should be held into alleged criminal behaviour at Britain’s most read Sunday newspaper.

Mr Coulson, who was News of the World editor until 2007, has been accused of authorising payments to police officers for information.

Asked by Chris Bryant MP at a Culture, Media and Sport select select committee hearing in 2003 whether the newspaper had ever paid police officers, Ms Brooks, then editor of the Sun, confirmed that it had exchanged money for information.

Her successor at the News of the World, who went on to become David Cameron’s director of communications, defused the situation - telling committee members that the paper had acted within the law.

Chris Bryant, who kicked off the Commons debate this afternoon, today questioned whether paying police officers for information could ever be legal.

The relationship between some members of parliament and the News International group has come under light as Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World is accused of hacking phones and paying police officers.

As the BBC’s Newsnight found last night, backbench MP and then chair of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, John Whittingdale MP, had enjoyed a donation of £3,000 from the media empire to the cricket club that he is the vice-chairman of. Mr Whittingdale told Newsnight that the organisation sponsors many other sports clubs.

According to one member of the committee, the chair told the backbench MPs not to use their power to force Rebekah Brooks to give evidence.

Adam Price, former Plaid Cymru MP and select committee member, told Newsnight:

“The chair told us to think very carefully before going down that road, because there could be consequences for us, personally.”

After Channel 4’s Dispatches investigation, ‘Tabloids and Telephone Hacking’ last October, Labour MP Tom Watson told journalists he had been threatened by a senior member of News International staff in 2006 - something the organisation denies.

At Prime Minister’s Questions earlier this afternoon, David Cameron said an independent inquiry into whether police had been paid for details including the phone numbers of the victims of the 7/7 bombings should take place.

http://twitter.com/rattlecans/status/88668846931705856 Ma

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequen: http://bit.ly/oUzKvH by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/prpringle/status/88669017602146306 Patrick Pringle

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences" http://t.co/8OHXzIU
http://twitter.com/avichai15/status/88669690053922816 Paul McGlynn

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequen: http://bit.ly/oUzKvH by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/lissarda/status/88669718201896960 D

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequen: http://bit.ly/oUzKvH by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/newreddawn/status/88670305475764224 Gordon

MT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "consequences": http://bit.ly/oUzKvH by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/onlyrad/status/88672344016564224 Rad

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/simonzec23/status/88674354354855936 Simon Zec

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/press_not_sorry/status/88675199901380608 Press Not Sorry

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/superretroid/status/88675567402090498 Paul Wood

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/neutralisation/status/88676187521548288 oh dear.

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/toffeetechnoir/status/88676549372547072 Toffee TechNoir

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/digitalraven/status/88678524268986369 Stew Wilson

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/clairee_french/status/88679391592333312 Claire French

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/starsparkle_uk/status/88680592778072064 StarSparkle

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/discordian1/status/88681133168001024 Discordian

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” http://t.co/mmBlIH8
http://twitter.com/ravensrod/status/88681178990776320 Ferret Dave

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/sspcampsie/status/88681205767213056 SSP Campsie

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/mkrisna/status/88681731632275456 Mark Adri-Soejoko

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences" http://t.co/rAaAq3w.
http://twitter.com/democracyfail/status/88684362488487936 DemocracyFail

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/msjenniferjames/status/88684631662141440 jennifer james

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/feenixuk/status/88685677994196992 Feenix

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/onlywantsone/status/88685864397438978 Emily Benton

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/88698194271281152 Michael

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” l Left Foot Forward – http://tinyurl.com/6fbqcdu
http://twitter.com/altany/status/88698388056518656 Altany

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” l Left Foot Forward – http://tinyurl.com/6fbqcdu
http://twitter.com/4e4_network/status/88698453919670273 Big Joe

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” l Left Foot Forward – http://tinyurl.com/6fbqcdu
http://twitter.com/janet_ewan/status/88700137752363008 janet ewan

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences" http://t.co/RXF3Yzg
http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/88703718341619713 Andy S

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” l Left Foot Forward – http://tinyurl.com/6fbqcdu
http://twitter.com/frdragonspouse/status/88704632725049344 Jill Hayward

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” l Left Foot Forward – http://tinyurl.com/6fbqcdu
http://twitter.com/kingmike01/status/88710469103263744 Mike King

Select Committee MPs warned off forcing Brooks to give evidence, £3kl bungs to MPs pet cricket club #NOTW #Hacking http://ht.ly/5yfOd
http://twitter.com/elainesk/status/88710633046024192 Elaine S

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson “because there could be consequences” l Left Foot Forward – http://t.co/oa8OQMe #NOTW #hacking
George McLean

Without wishing to detract from the practices that Murdoch’s publications (no doubt like others) allegedly engaged in (and perhaps still do), why did not Messrs Pryce or Whittingdale not inform electors, to whom they are accountable, that they had been warned by press contacts (presumably linked to Murdoch and others) “to think very carefully before going down that road [sc. of speaking the truth], because there could be consequences for us, personally.” Was their personal quiet life, with the consequences of a company like Murdoch’s owning a huge swath of the British media, worth it? If yes, why are they there?
George McLean

OK – not “Pryce” but “Price” (ie the exchange value of something, such as fish … or openness).
http://twitter.com/lenarthur2/status/88722397699637248 Len Arthur

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
mr. Sensible

Anyone would think those newspapers ran the country…
http://twitter.com/hens4freedom/status/88725823678464000 Hens4Freedom

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/festinagirl/status/88726061231247360 festinagirl

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/luskamengham/status/88727421536305152 Luska Mengham

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
George McLean

@3. mr. Sensible

But they don’t. They are parasites on the electorally successful. Murdoch’s tactic is to wait to see who willwin an election, then back them, and finally trumpet “It’s the Sun wot won it!”. And many MPs are such dupes that they believe the Dirty Digger and others like him are more powerful than they are, and are cowed into not exposing any attempts at blackmail.
http://twitter.com/evilc154/status/88755326916100097 Clive Burgess

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences" http://t.co/tGFCIql
http://twitter.com/ceepeebee/status/88757635385536512 chris brown

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences": http://t.co/KfwjXg7 by @clairee_french #NotW
http://twitter.com/polleetickle/status/88885373094207488 Polleetickle

Labour PR machine detracting from who the GOV't was during #hackgate http://t.co/FOqfCK6 #NotW @leftfootfwd @BrokenOfBritain
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/88885538651770881 BendyGirl

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences" http://t.co/7ZTXQPj
http://twitter.com/nhsspy/status/88886843956936705 Watching You

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequen: http://bit.ly/oUzKvH #NotW
http://twitter.com/brokenofbritain/status/88890481995550720 Broken OfBritain

Labour PR machine detracting from who the GOV't was during #hackgate http://t.co/FOqfCK6 #NotW @leftfootfwd @BrokenOfBritain
http://twitter.com/dollymixture/status/88895998209957888 dolly daydream

RT @leftfootfwd: MPs were warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "because there could be consequences" http://t.co/7ZTXQPj
http://twitter.com/karmicadelica/status/88908811624136704 George Spiggott

@GeorgeMonbiot Former MP: select committee warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” http://t.co/5TFiFTd
http://twitter.com/karmicadelica/status/88909031711834112 George Spiggott

@msjenniferjames Former MP: select committee warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, “because there could be consequences” http://t.co/5TFiFTd
http://twitter.com/twttimestop/status/89023602447495168 Tweeted Times Top

MPs were warned off probing Brooks & …: http://goo.gl/F93cj most discussed on @jimboeth/mentalhealth (http://goo.gl/ICjgJ)
http://twitter.com/bungledinho/status/89063605349269504 Bryan Robson

@lbutcheruk http://t.co/8iZe8jv
http://twitter.com/bungledinho/status/89070287085244417 Bryan Robson

@GavWeaver http://t.co/8iZe8jv
Cassandra

Lets not forget new labour, Blair, Campbell etc. spent their entire time in office with their noses firmly up Rupert’s backside.

Will we ever see them acknowledge their errors. Unlikely – even though people like Campbell seem to they have something valid to say on just about any other topic.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/07/questions-rupert-murdoch-james-murdoch-rebekah-broooks-must-answer/ The questions Murdoch, Murdoch and Brooks must answer | Left Foot Forward

[...] claims of former select committe member and Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price, who says the committee were warned off further investigating Brooks, Coulson and NI “because there could be consequences”. [...]
http://twitter.com/eglantine99/status/134934056797347841 Jill

MPs warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "there could be consequences" | Left Foot Forward #Hackgate #MurdochMafia http://t.co/dVb3krCC
http://twitter.com/eglantine99/status/135278411760402433 Jill

News Corp bung to Whittingdale: MPs warned off probing Brooks/Coulson, "there could be consequences" http://t.co/dVb3krCC #Hackgate
http://twitter.com/jackieneylon/status/135302147834253312 jackie neylon

News Corp bung to Whittingdale: MPs warned off probing Brooks/Coulson, "there could be consequences" http://t.co/dVb3krCC #Hackgate
http://twitter.com/woolfiesmith/status/135478153433980929 Citizen K

MPs warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "there could be consequences" | Left Foot Forward #Hackgate #MurdochMafia http://t.co/dVb3krCC
http://twitter.com/5mumsie/status/135531863023431680 Jean Pierre

MPs warned off probing Brooks & Coulson, "there could be consequences" | Left Foot Forward #Hackgate #MurdochMafia http://t.co/dVb3krCC