MPs' Anger Over 'Illegal' Phone Tap Claims

Claims that mobiles phones were hacked into by newspaper contacts

Senior politicians are demanding to know if their mobile phones were tapped by private investigators working for a newspaper group.

News International, which publishes the News of the World, reportedly paid £1m to settle cases that might have revealed evidence of its journalists' involvement in phone hacking.

Police officers found evidence of staff using investigators who had hacked into "thousands" of phones,

He resigned after royal editor Clive Goodman was sentenced to four months in prison for plotting to hack into telephone messages belonging to royal aides.

The Guardian said payments of more than £1m have secured secrecy over three out-of-court settlements which would have shown the alleged methods being used.

MPs from all three parties and Cabinet ministers including John Prescott and former culture secretary Tessa Jowell were among the targets, it said.

The Guardian said Andy Coulson, Conservative leader David Cameron's director of communications, was deputy editor and then editor of the News of the World at the time.

John Whittingdale, Conservative chairman of the Commons culture select committee, said it would consider the alleged revelations today.

Labour used the allegations to question Mr Coulson's role with the Conservatives.

Former Cabinet minister Geoff Hoon said: "It is hard to see how in these circumstances Andy Coulson can continue as David Cameron's communications chief while such a cloud hangs over his reputation."

Former Labour home secretary Charles Clarke said: "The Guardian's revelations about News International phone bugging are sensational.

"If they are true, the behaviour of News International and some of its senior executives is disappointing, immoral and probably illegal."

A spokesman for Scotland Yard told Sky News: "We carried out an investigation into the alleged unlawful interception of telephone calls.

"Officers liaised closely with the Crown Prosecution Service.

"Two people were charged and subsequently convicted and jailed. We are not prepared to comment further."