REBEKAH Brooks, News International’s chief executive, last night claimed she had been “betrayed” by the News of the World phone hackers as her boss Rupert Murdoch announced he will fly into the UK today to deal with the growing crisis.
The former editor of the tabloid newspaper revealed her anger in a meeting with staff who will lose their jobs after the last edition is published tomorrow.
Ms Brooks, who is expected to hold crisis meetings with Mr Murdoch today, told workers: “I’m just as sorry as you are that people we trusted let us down, and that’s the case. If being betrayed is a resignation issue then maybe I’ve read it wrong, but I think I’m much more useful leading this company through this.”
She hinted that further revelations were to come in the hacking scandal and they would understand “in a year” why Britain’s biggest-selling Sunday newspaper had to close.
It came as the Crown Office called on Strathclyde Police to examine claims of phone hacking in Scotland, which could involve up to 1000 News of the World victims.
At News International’s London headquarters, Ms Brooks told staff the newspaper was forced out of business because advertisers saw the brand as toxic. She told staff she had “visibility” on revelations to come and “in a year you will understand why this decision was taken”.
However, James Murdoch, the company’s chairman, has stripped Ms Brooks of her role leading its internal investigation, which will now be done by other senior managers.
Last night, News International denied reports a senior executive had shredded “massive quantities” of emails.
Meanwhile, Andy Coulson, 43, the former News of The World editor, was released from police custody after being arrested nine hours earlier over allegations of phone hacking and payments to police officers.
Prime Minister David Cameron’s ex-director of communications left Lewisham police station, in south-east London, on bail amid a media scrum, saying: “There is an awful lot I would like to say but I can’t at this time.”
Clive Goodman, 53, the former News of the World royal editor, who was jailed over the scandal, was also arrested and bailed over alleged police bribery.
A 63-year-old man was last night arrested and is being held on suspicion of corruption.
It was claimed yesterday a News International executive deleted a huge number of emails from an archive believed to contain evidence crucial to the police’s phone hacking inquiry.
The file is believed to stretch back to 1995 and includes details of correspondence between News of the World staff and freelance workers, including private investigators.
A source close to the Metropolitan Police inquiry was reported as saying “massive quantities” of emails were related from the archive on two occasions.
Investigators are believed to know who is responsible for the deletions after following an electronic paper trail and the Crown Prosecution Service is understood to be deciding whether to charge the executive with perverting the course of justice.
A News International spokeswoman said: “This assertion is rubbish. We adopted a documented email retention policy in line with our US parent’s records management policy. We are co-operating actively with police and have not destroyed evidence.”
After, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, again denounced the Prime Minister for an “appalling error of judgment” in appointing Mr Coulson. Mr Cameron refused to apologise but said he took “full responsibility” for the appointment.
Making clear he wanted to give his “friend” a “second chance”. The Prime Minister admitted it had not worked out because of the relentless attention on his spin doctor.
Mr Cameron said he had had background checks done on Mr Coulson but when pressed about warnings allegedly given to him by editors, the Prime Minister said he could not recall them.
Later, a No 10 source denied Mr Cameron was warned directly about Mr Coulson. There had been a telephone conversation in November 2009 between Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, and Steve Hilton, the PM’s aide, but “nothing specific” was mentioned in relation to the ex-tabloid editor and “nothing was passed on” to the PM.
Mr Cameron told journalists he wanted to “get to the bottom” of the phone hacking scandal and agreed a judge should lead the public inquiry.
Ian Bell: Page 15
Leader comment: Page 16
Letters special: Page 16