Murdoch group set investigators to spy on MPs, claims hacking lawyer

A lawyer representing phone-hacking victims says he has seen documents suggesting that News International placed politicians under surveillance.

Mark Lewis, whose clients include the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, was himself tailed by a private detective hired by the media company. He said Labour MP and hacking campaigner Tom Watson was among those named in a report he was given by police.

Mr Lewis told Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Radio 5 Live that he planned to bring a civil claim for breach of privacy against News International, former publishers of the News of the World. The solicitor said documents suggested that the move to place politicians under surveillance was ordered "by someone at News International".

"I have seen Tom Watson's name, and other politicians' names have featured. This is a report that I have been handed by the police," he said.

News International said yesterday that it was "deeply inappropriate" that it had hired private investigator Derek Webb to spy on Mr Lewis and fellow lawyer Charlotte Harris, who also represents victims of phone-hacking.

The company declined to comment on Mr Lewis's latest claims.

Mr Lewis condemned the spying, which included following and filming his former wife and children.

He said: "It's disgraceful. No father wants his child surveyed - this is wrong on so many levels. I am sure they were doing it in order to stop me and Charlotte Harris representing our clients. It was undoubtedly a fishing exercise."

Mr Webb, a former police officer who ran a private investigations firm called Silent Shadow, told the BBC he had not been paid compensation he was owed for his loyalty to the News of the World over eight years of service.

The private detective said he was commissioned by the now-closed Sunday tabloid to carry out surveillance on Mr Lewis and his former assistant Ms Harris in Manchester early last year, while James Murdoch was executive chairman of News International.

Mr Watson sits on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is investigating phone-hacking and will hear further evidence from Mr Murdoch on Thursday.

Shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman said: "These revelations take the shame of the phone-hacking scandal to a new low.

"llegal acts intended to intimidate the legal profession are a fundamental attack on the rule of law."

Max Mosley today won his privacy claim against the News of the World but lost his battle to bring criminal libel charges against former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck. Judges in Paris ruled that the 71-year-old former Formula One president had his privacy violated by a front page story about him visiting prostitutes. News Group Newspapers was ordered to pay £6,000 to Mr Mosley, £8,500 to the French Republic, and £12,800 costs. Mr Mosley's lawyers had sought damages of about £180,000.