Rupert Murdoch backs News Int’s Rebekah Brooks
News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch has backed News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks despite political pressure for her to resign over allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World.
It is alleged that the News of the World hacked the phone of murdered teenager Milly Dowler in 2002 when Brooks, then Wade, was editor.
The paper is also accused of hacking the phones of July bombing victims’ families and the relatives of murdered Soham school girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
At Prime Minister’s Questions earlier today (6 July) Labour leader Ed Miliband called for Brooks, who was promoted to CEO in 2009, to stand down.
However, Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News International owner News Corp, says that Brooks will continue to lead the company’s UK newspaper business.
He says: “Recent allegations of phone hacking and making payments to police with respect to the News of the World are deplorable and unacceptable.
“I have made clear that our company must fully and proactively cooperate with the police in all investigations and that is exactly what News International has been doing and will continue to do under Rebekah Brooks’ leadership.”
He continues: “We are committed to addressing these issues fully and have taken a number of important steps to prevent them from happening again. I have also appointed Joel Klein to provide important oversight and guidance and Joel and Viet Dinh, an independent director, are keeping News Corporation’s board fully advised as well.”
Advertisers including Halifax, Ford and the Co-op have pulled advertising from the paper in protest, while many more are reviewing their position.
