Louise Mensch urged the creation of a new 'contempt of Parliament' offence, as MPs voted to refer to the Standards committee claims they were misled by three former News International executives. 

Culture Committee chair John Whittingdale tabled a motion to refer the cases of Colin Myler, Les Hinton and Tom Crone, after committee members concluded they had been 'materially misled' about the extent of phone hacking at the News of the World.

Conservative Ms Mensch gave her support to the motion, and called for the creation of the new offence to deal with such cases in the future.

“The whole House is familiar with the offence of contempt of court, which is used routinely,” she said.

“Let us hope that it is not so routinely used, but I believe that an offence ought to be created that will be a contempt of Parliament offence.

“It would only be used in the most serious circumstances, and I believe it should then be, as with any other offence, up to prosecutors to try it in the protection of a court system.”

Labour's Chris Bryant said the “rights of Parliament” were at stake in the News International case, and warned that “shying away” from the issue would be a “profound mistake”.

“Surely to god, it is time that we asserted the freedom of Parliament - in fact, the rights of Parliament," he said.

"Not for our own sakes - it’s irrelevant for our own sakes - but quite simply because if Parliament is lied to we cannot do our job on behalf of our constituents, and if Parliament is lied to there is impunity thereafter, people will do it again – and then the democratic process unfolds.”

Louise Mensch urged the creation of a new 'contempt of Parliament' offence, as MPs voted to refer to the Standards committee claims they were misled by three former News International executives. 

Culture Committee chair John Whittingdale tabled a motion to refer the cases of Colin Myler, Les Hinton and Tom Crone, after committee members concluded they had been 'materially misled' about the extent of phone hacking at the News of the World.

Conservative Ms Mensch gave her support to the motion, and called for the creation of the new offence to deal with such cases in the future.

“The whole House is familiar with the offence of contempt of court, which is used routinely,” she said.

“Let us hope that it is not so routinely used, but I believe that an offence ought to be created that will be a contempt of Parliament offence.

“It would only be used in the most serious circumstances, and I believe it should then be, as with any other offence, up to prosecutors to try it in the protection of a court system.”

Labour's Chris Bryant said the “rights of Parliament” were at stake in the News International case, and warned that “shying away” from the issue would be a “profound mistake”.

“Surely to god, it is time that we asserted the freedom of Parliament - in fact, the rights of Parliament," he said.

"Not for our own sakes - it’s irrelevant for our own sakes - but quite simply because if Parliament is lied to we cannot do our job on behalf of our constituents, and if Parliament is lied to there is impunity thereafter, people will do it again – and then the democratic process unfolds.”

A number of MPs from all parties have expressed their "sense of fear and intimidation" about News International, Labour MP Tom Watson has told the Leveson Inquiry.

Mr Watson, who has campaigned heavily for an investigation into media impropriety, said he had been contacted by "about a dozen" MPs from both sides of the House who have experienced "intimidating behaviour" from newspapers. "I think it is fear of ridicule and humiliation to do with their private lives, or their political mistakes," he said.

Other senior members of the Labour Party will give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into the relationship between politicians and the press today, with Alan Johnson and Lord Smith also set to appear. Yesterday it was announced Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt would be investigated over claims he failed to declare donations from media firms.

A number of MPs from all parties have expressed their "sense of fear and intimidation" about News International, Labour MP Tom Watson has told the Leveson Inquiry.

Mr Watson, who has campaigned heavily for an investigation into media impropriety, said he had been contacted by "about a dozen" MPs from both sides of the House who have experienced "intimidating behaviour" from newspapers. "I think it is fear of ridicule and humiliation to do with their private lives, or their political mistakes," he said.

Other senior members of the Labour Party will give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into the relationship between politicians and the press today, with Alan Johnson and Lord Smith also set to appear. Yesterday it was announced Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt would be investigated over claims he failed to declare donations from media firms.

Tessa Jowell and Lord Mandelson have denied there was any deal struck between New Labour and News International.

Speaking at the Leveson Inquiry, Ms Jowell said: "I asked [Tony Blair] whether any deal had been done with Rupert Murdoch on the reform of cross-media ownership rules. He gave me an absolute assurance there had been no prior agreement.”

Lord Mandelson, also giving evidence to the Inquiry, said: “I simply do not believe such a deal happened.”

Ms Jowell, a former Culture Secretary, spoke about her personal experience of phone-hacking, stating that the media had shown an “obsessive curiosity about my private life and my family."

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to be investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over claims he failed to register donations from media firms.

The move comes after Labour MP Steve McCabe wrote to Sir John Lyon, asking him to investigate a possible failure by Mr Hunt to properly register a financial interest.

It concerns meetings organised by private companies between July 2009 and March 2010, when Mr Hunt and his deputy Ed Vaizey were in opposition.

Mr Vaizey stated in his entry in the register of interests that he and Mr Hunt attended had attended eight sponsored events between July 2009 and March 2010.However, Mr Hunt did not declare the meetings against his name in the register. He has subsequently claimed that he attended only three of the eight meetings.

Labour has already demanded the resignation of Mr Hunt, arguing that his relationship with Rupert Murdoch's News International was too close at a time when he was overseeing the company's attempt to take over broadcaster BSkyB.

Meanwhile a key former aide to Boris Johnson has been recruited as head of News International's communications team. Guto Harri, who is also a former BBC journalist, intends to use the post to "combat hysteria".

David Cameron tried to keep Rupert Murdoch and the press from getting too close for the first 15 months of his leadership, a book reveals. His media team was headed by George Eustice and had as their strategy an arms' length policy engagement with the press. The book, 'Cameron: Practically a Conservative', has already caused some controversy. Today the authors have shown the path from 2005 to 2007 when Cameron became involved with the Murdochs, despite the former promise of  "no more sucking up to Murdoch".

News International's UK titles could be spun off into a trust under plans being formulated by senior News Corp executives, according to the Daily Telegraph. Chief operating Chase Carey is understood to be looking at a number of options, including creating a trust to manage newspaper assets, a direct sale to private equity or going into a joint venture with a partner. The move would aim to allow News Corp to revisit its unsuccessful bid to take over broadcaster BSkyB.

Jeremy Hunt's former adviser Adam Smith and News Corporation lobbyist Frederic Michel will give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry next week, it was revealed this morning.

Mr Smith, who resigned from his position after it was revealed that he had been in contact with Mr Michel over News Corp's proposed takeover of BSkyB, and Mr Michel will give evidence on Thursday.

Other witnesses announced for next week's hearings are Tessa Jowell, Lord Mandelson, Alan Johnson, Lord Smith, Tom Watson, Stephen Dorrell, Andrew Marr, Jeremy Paxman, Lord Reid and Lord Brooke.

Conservative Party officials have lined up a team of lawyers to advise the Prime Minister and ministers on their appearances before the Inquiry. The lawyers, to be paid through party funds, are on stand-by to provide help as ministers prepare to answer questions about their links with the media. Civil servants are also helping to prepare David Cameron and up to seven Cabinet ministers who face questioning under oath over the next five weeks.

David Cameron today defended the vetting that his former director of communications Andy Coulson received to allow him to work in Downing Street.

The Prime Minister was quizzed by Labour's Meg Hillier on the level of scrutiny that Mr Coulson received. Ms Hillier asked; "If Andy Coulson was not vetted, why did he attend secret briefings and what documents did he see?"

The Prime Minister replied: "I know the Hon. Lady is desperate to find the smoking gun, but I absolutely tell her this is absolutely not it. We took a view on coming to office that in the past there had been too many people cleared at the highest level and that had led to some of the problems in terms of Alastair Campbell, but when it came to it Andy Coulson was in the process of being vetted and there is no mystery about it at all."

The Culture Secretary's former special adviser Adam Smith and News Corporation lobbyist Fred Michel will be called before the Leveson Inquiry before the end of the month, it has been announced.

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, along with her husband Charlie and four others, were charged with perverting the course of justice over the ongoing investigation into phone hacking.

Rebekah Brooks has said she is "baffled" by the "injust and weak" decision to charge her with perverting the course of justice during the phone-hacking scandal.

Appearing alongside her husband Charlie, who has also been charged, the former News International chief executive dismissed the case as an "expensive sideshow" and said she could not express her "anger" enough that those closest to her had been "dragged into" the case.

"Whilst I have always respected the criminal justice system," she said, "I have to question today whether the decision was made on a proper impartial assessment of the evidence. I understand, and know, that there needs to be a proper and thorough investigation, and I am baffled by the decision to charge me today.

"One day the details of this case will emerge and people will see today as nothing more than an expensive sideshow, a waste of public money, as a result of an injust and weak decision."

The Crown Prosecution Service this morning confirmed the pair had been charged, along with four others. A seventh suspect has been released without charge.

The allegations do not relate to the main phone hacking claims, but are part of a wider investigation into whether there were attempts within News International to ‘cover up’ evidence.

A statement from the Crown Prosecution service said: "In relation to all suspects except the 7th there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction".

Police investigating illegal payments to public officials have also confirmed the arrest of a man and a woman at their home in north London this morning.

Lord Leveson this afternoon argued that requiring ministers to give evidence to the House of Commons before it was heard by his Inquiry could "undermine the fairness of the procedure".

Downing Street has been asked to explain whether Andy Coulson is the only recent senior press adviser to have been spared high-level security vetting. Lord Justice Leveson said he wanted to find out whether the issue represented "a smoking gun". It comes as Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt faces pressure to appear before MPs to explain his relationship with News Corp.

Harriet Harman has demanded that Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt does not "evade his accountability" to MPs by refusing to answer questions until he appears before the Leveson Inquiry.

In a point of order in the House of Commons, the Labour Deputy Leader and Shadow Culture Secretary asked the Speaker:

"Could you clarify that notwithstanding that the Leveson Inquiry is proceeding with its work, it remains the case that the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is accountable to this House? Will you please confirm whether it is in order for the Secretary of State to say that he won't answer questions from members in this House because instead he is going to tell Lord Leveson and whether it's in order for the Secretary of State to say he won't place documents in the Library because he's giving them to Leveson?

"Will you confirm the Secretary of State's refusal to answer the question is not because he's prevented from doing so by the Leveson Inquiry but because he doesn't want to? Of course the Secretary of State must give his evidence to Leveson whenever he's called. But surely he cannot use that as an excuse to evade his accountability to this House."

Speaker Bercow replied: "As a matter of general principle, I should make it clear that the accountability of a minister to this House is not diluted or suspended by a minister's engagement with inquiries or other proceedings outside of this House. When Parliamentary Questions to ministers are tabled, those questions should receive substantive and timely answers."

Nick Clegg this morning added to the pressure on Mr Hunt, telling ITV's Daybreak the Culture Secretary needed to "explain himself".

Asked if Mr Hunt had his backing, Mr Clegg said:

"He has got my backing to explain himself at the Leveson Inquiry. I think what everybody wants is to get at the truth."

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks will find out tomorrow if she is to face charges for perverting the course of justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to make an announcement at 10am over allegations relating to Ms Brooks and six other members of the public, according to ITV News.

The allegations do not relate to the main phone hacking claims, but are part of a wider investigation into whether there were attempts within News International to ‘cover up’ evidence.

The news comes after former Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell claimed David Cameron had become too close to the media.

Lord O'Donnell told the Leveson Inquiry this morning that the Prime Minister had "felt his relationships had got too close, and I agree with him."

The former head of the civil service also said relationships between certain senior police officers and media were "too close... not the right way to operate".

Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street communications director under Mr Blair, also appeared before the inquiry today.

He said that politicians overstate the electoral importance of an endorsement from newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch. But he denied there was ever a deal between New Labour and Mr Murdoch, pointing to "lots of areas where you’d be hard pressed to say that the Murdochs were getting a good deal out of the Labour government".

George Osborne is also under pressure to appear before the Leveson Inquiry as further disclosures highlight the Chancellor’s links to News Corporation.

Mr Osborne has so far been only asked to provide written evidence to the inquiry, but he is likely to be called to appear after it emerged he entertained Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson at his official private residence prior to their bid to buy BSkyB.

In a separate development today, former News International boss Les Hinton has written to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport committee accusing them of "misreading" evidence and using "a selective and misleading analysis" of his testimonies to MPs.

In a report the committee had accused Mr Hinton of being "complicit" in covering upphone hacking at the News of the World.

In a letter to committee chair John Whittingdale, Mr Hinton says the accusations "rest on a highly selective reading of the record, and unsupportable leaps in logic and inference".