Eight MPs' phones 'were hacked'

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Labour MP Chris Byrant has revealed that "at least eight" MPs may have been the victim of phone hacking.

In tonight's adjournment debate the member for the Rhondda said hacking of phone messages is just one of "dark arts" that formed the "systematic modus operandi of the News of the World".

He said hacking and other sharp practices were used by the newspaper since at least 2003 until 2006.

Bryant told the House he believes that hacking took place as early as 2002, under the editorship of Rebecca Wade, now senior News International executive Rebecca Brooks, and that evidence will soon prove that to be the case.

He also claimed that such activity was not confined to the NotW, and at least one Sunday Times journalist is suspected of hacking.

Bryant revealed that at least eight MPs have now been told that their phones were targeted and their messages may have been intercepted.

He called the relationship between NotW journalists and the Met police "dangerously close".

He told the House that Brooks has already admitted "bribing" police officers, but there was "no investigation whatsoever".

Bryant attacked the police's definition of hacking, namely that it only related to phone messages that had been intercepted before the owner of the phone had listened to them.

He said the Met had large amounts of evidence that many people had been the victim of hacking and is "astounded and infuriated" that officers "had many of the dots but refused to join them up".

Home office minister James Brokenshire said any phone hacking is a very serious criminal matter as well as "a very serious invasion of privacy", and should be treated accordingly,

However, investigations are an operational matter for the police and it is for them to decide how to proceed.

The investigation was reopened in January after "new evidence" came to light and it would not be appropriate for ministers to comment, Brokenshire said.

Bryant intervened to point out that new evidence only came about because actress Sienna Miller "wrested" papers from the police about the possible hacking of her phone through a civil court case.

Brokenshire said the most appropriate course of action is to wait for the outcome of the "thorough and robust" investigation.

In September the Commons standards and privileges committee decided to investigate the alleged hacking of MPs' phones.