Phone-hacking row as it happened: 18 July

Welcome to our live page. We'll be keeping you up to date with all the latest developments in the phone hacking scandal over the coming hours.

A quick recap. Metropolitan Police head Sir Paul Stephenson on Sunday announced he was resigning. He had faced criticism for hiring ex-News of the World executive Neil Wallis as an adviser.

Sir Paul said his integrity was intact, but referred to the prime minister's relationship with former News of the World editor Andy Coulson. Mr Coulson resigned as director of communications at Downing Street over the phone-hacking row and has since been arrested and released on bail as part of the police inquiry, Operation Weeting.

Mr Cameron is due to speak to media later this morning.

Home Secretary Theresa May says she is sorry Sir Paul has resigned.

"Sir Paul has led the force through difficult times and although current circumstances show that there are still serious issues to be addressed, I believe that the force is operationally stronger today now than it was when he took over."

She tells BBC Breakfast: "What I would say is this - that until anybody is found guilty of wrongdoing and that has gone through a proper process, all Metropolitan Police officers have my confidence."

Click here to read Sir Paul's full resignation statement.

In a statement on phone-hacking, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales Paul McKeever says: "Where any wrongdoing is found to have occurred it is right that those individuals concerned are dealt with appropriately.

"However, seeing and hearing some of the recent commentary by some media and politicians I must object, on behalf of all police officers across England and Wales, to the grossly offensive and incorrect assumption that the police service suffers from wide-scale corruption.

"If we identify a bad doctor we don't hear widespread condemnation of the entire medical profession."

Mr McKeever says any allegations of corruption must be kept in context and not become "an excuse for political point-scoring".

"The British police service remains the most open, accountable and professional police force in the world and the men and women who work within it are of the utmost integrity and have every reason to be proud."

South African President Jacob Zuma has opened a joint media conference with Prime Minister David Cameron. Mr Cameron is expected to face questions over the phone-hacking row during the conference.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, suggests the Metropolitan Police's Assistant Commissioner, John Yates, is to be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Authority about his links to the former News of the World executive, Neil Wallis.

Boris Johnson tells BBC that John Yates has "questions to answer" about his relationship with Neil Wallis who began working as a consultant for Scotland Yard in 2009.

The BBC's James Landale asks Mr Cameron to explain the difference between Sir Paul Stephenson's links with Neil Wallis and the prime minister's relationship with Andy Coulson.

Mr Cameron says the Met inquiry must go "wherever the evidence leads" but he says the situation in Scotland Yard is quite different from the situation in government.

He says the government has taken "very decisive action", setting up an inquiry and demonstrating "pretty much complete transparency in terms of media contact".

Mr Cameron says it is important that the Metropolitan Police "does not a miss a beat" following Sir Paul's resignation.

He says "what matters most is that we ensure very swift and effective continuity" at the Met.

Mr Cameron says "it may well be right" for parliament to sit on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the hacking scandal and the Culture Committee's session on Tuesday.

Mr Cameron says: "In terms of Andy Coulson, no-one has argued that the work he did in government was in any way inappropriate or bad."

The prime minister says that contrasts with the situation in the Met, where the issues have been around whether the phone-hacking claims have been investigated appropriately.

Police should investigate the phone-hacking allegations without fear or favour, the prime minister says.

It's now emerged that John Yates was in charge of checking out Neil Wallis, the former deputy editor of the News of the World, before he was given a contract by the Metropolitan Police. Assistant Commissioner Yates was tasked with the 'due diligence'.

Yates was given categorical assurances from from Wallis that nothing would emerge that would embarrass either of them or the commissioner.

The Met took the view that Wallis had never been 'in the frame' over hacking.

Journalists at the Pretoria media conference held by South African President Jacob Zuma and Prime Minister David Cameron focused many of their questions on the phone-hacking row in Britain.

Yates of the Yard looks to be next in line for the Boris treatment.

Shadow police minister Vernon Coaker MP says Sir Paul Stephenson's resignation was "a very dignified statement by someone who felt his integrity had been questioned".

He says Sir Paul was right to say the same standards applied to police should apply to politicians.

Downing St sources say they expect Prime Minister David Cameron to make a statement on hacking and take questions if the current parliamentary session is extended until Wednesday.

However, they do not expect that extending the session until Wednesday will mean there will be another full Prime Minister's Questions.

BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says there are a number of possible replacements for Sir Paul Stephenson as Metropolitan Police commissioner.

He suggests Association of Chief Police Officers president Sir Hugh Orde, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin and Thames Valley Chief Constable Sara Thornton could all be in the running.

writes on our BBC News Facebook wall: I think one of the most telling things about this whole scandal is the number of people (and I would include myself) who at least initially would say "corruption is widespread and it's the way the world works".

We have a chance to rethink that. because although we will never eradicate it, it shouldn't be the way the world works.

Home editor Mark Easton says the Metropolitan Police Authority Professional Standards Committee is expected to make a statement on John Yates at 1230 BST.

Shares in Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation dropped by 7.6% at one stage, before closing down 4.1%.

Shares touched A$13.65 in Sydney before recovering slightly.

BBC home affairs correspondent Matt Prodger says at least one member of the Metropolitan Police standards committee has called for Assistant Commissioner John Yates to go.

He says Tim Godwin will take over from Sir Paul Stephenson as Met Commissioner after Sir Paul's resignation on Sunday, but that a permanent appointment is not likely to be made before autumn.

The Home Affairs Committee has invited John Yates to appear before MPs on Tuesday.

Confused by all the names involved in the phone-hacking row? Take a look at our table of the main players.

Metropolitan Police Authority member Christopher Boothman says Assistant Commissioner John Yates's position has become "untenable" after Sir Paul Stephenson's resignation as Met commissioner.

The Metropolitan Police Authority press office says it will not be making a statement on John Yates at 1230 BST; however, sources have told the BBC a statement will be made.

A spokesman for Rebekah Brooks says the former News International chief executive will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee tomorrow to answer MPs' questions on the phone-hacking affair, despite her arrest yesterday.

The Serious Fraud Office will give "full consideration" to an MP's call for it to launch an investigation into Rupert Murdoch's News International, a spokeswoman says.

Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) member Christopher Boothman tells the BBC John Yates needs to think about the impression that's been left with the MPA, Met officers and the public.

He says he is calling on Mr Yates to resign because "there's an issue with confidence".

Labour leader Ed Miliband is due to make a speech at midday, after which he is expected to take questions from the media. Watch his speech live on this page.

A new list of Prime Minister David Cameron's contacts with senior media figures will be released later after some "omissions" were identified, a Downing Street spokeswoman says.

The spokeswoman says Mr Cameron plans to make a statement to MPs on the phone-hacking scandal at 1130BST on Wednesday, but it will not be followed by prime minister's questions.

More from Mr Cameron's spokeswoman. She says he was not given advance warning of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson's resignation.

She adds Home Secretary Theresa May has written to Sir Paul requesting "the full picture" on Scotland Yard's employment of the former deputy editor of the News of the World, Neil Wallis, and his links to him.

But the decision to resign was Sir Paul's alone.

Take a look at who might be in the running to replace outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson.

News Corporation head Rupert Murdoch, his son James, News International chairman, and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks are due to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday. We profile the MPs who will question them.

Labour leader Ed Miliband begins a media conference on the phone-hacking scandal.

Mr Miliband says the scandal will bring about a new era of responsibility for people of power in Britain.

He says it was incredibly moving to meet with the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler last week and to understand how the intrusion of the media worsened their pain.

Mr Miliband says it is important that MPs are given the chance to debate the issues arising from the select committee hearing taking place tomorrow.

More from Mr Miliband, who says there must be a new era of responsibility.

He says the scandal has ultimately been about individuals who lost their sense of right and wrong, but he says questions must be asked about how it was so widespread and able to go on for so long.

Mr Miliband says News International "thought it was beyond responsibility" and no-one seemed willing to challenge it.

Mr Miliband is comparing the phone-hacking scandal to the banking crisis, saying both are about power and responsibility.

He says the expenses row raised similar issues: "We saw the same shirking of responsibility, a culture of entitlement in Parliament.

"In the press, in finance, in politics, we have seen behaviour by the powerful showing great irresponsibility."

Mr Miliband says the behaviour of those "at the top" sends a message about what is and isn't acceptable in British society.

He says politicians, the banking industry and the media need to earn back trust.

Mr Miliband says: "Every big challenge Britain faces requires a sense of responsibility to each other."

He says it used to be considered anti-aspirational to criticise people at the top but that is no longer the case.

"We have for too long been too reluctant to look the powerful in the eye and say they must change."

Mr Miliband says he asked David Cameron 12 days ago to apologise for his "catastrophic error of judgement" in appointing Andy Coulson, but the prime minister didn't do so.

He says Mr Cameron must now answer questions about Mr Coulson and also take questions from MPs on his relationship with Rebekah Brooks.

Former policing minister Labour MP David Hanson tells the BBC it is important that David Cameron's judgement in hiring Andy Coulson to "the heart of government" is questioned.

A police source says Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, has "not ruled himself out" of applying to be the next Met Police Commissioner, saying he was "likely to reflect" on whether to enter the contest.

We are expecting a Commons statement from Home Secretary Theresa May on the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson at 1530BST.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott says Assistant Commissioner John Yates must resign. "That man's feet shouldn't touch the ground."

Rebekah Brooks's solicitor Stephen Parkinson reads a statement saying the former News International chief executive is not guilty of any criminal offence.

Mr Parkinson says the Met's position is less easy to understand. "Despite arresting her yesterday and conducting an interview process lasting nine hours, they put no allegations to her and showed her no documents connecting her with any crime.

"They will in due course have to give an account of their actions and in particular their decision to arrest her with the enormous reputational damage that this has involved."

Mr Parkinson goes on, saying Mrs Brooks will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee tomorrow. "She remains willing to attend and to answer questions. It is a matter for Parliament to decide what issues to put to her and whether her appointment should take place at a later date."

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee says Rupert and James Murdoch will be giving evidence to MPs at 1430 BST on Tuesday. It says Mrs Brooks will appear on her own from 1530 BST.

Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner John Yates says he's done "nothing wrong", amid speculation he could be suspended over the phone-hacking scandal. He tells reporters who ask if his position is untenable: "Give me a break."

The Metropolitan Police Authority is meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action over Mr Yates's relationship with former News of the World executive Neil Wallis.

The Met Police Authority's professional standards committee is now expected to release a statement at about 1355.

The board of British Sky Broadcasting is expected to decide by the end of this week whether James Murdoch should stand down as its chairman.

Conservative MP John Baron tells the BBC's World at One that the hiring of Andy Coulson might have been an "own goal" for the prime minister.

"The prime minister has made clear that he was not informed about the background of Andy Coulson and there is no evidence and therefore no reason to doubt that. But at the end of the day I think it comes back to this point: political leaders have got too close to media moguls and that has to be put right."

Sources say John Yates has no intention of resigning as assistant commissioner at the Met Police and is complaining that a trial by media is casting careers aside on a whim.

Press Association reporter Laura Elston, who was arrested last month by police investigating allegations of phone hacking by journalists, will face no further action, her lawyer says.

There is mounting expectation that Met Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates is to be suspended.

Ladbrokes' odds on the permanent replacement for outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson:

• Sara Thornton - 2/1
• Sir Hugh Orde - 5/1
• Tim Godwin - 5/1
• Steve House - 6/1
• Cressida Dick - 8/1
• Bernard Hogan-Howe - 10/1
• Michael Fuller - 10/1
• Peter Fahy - 10/1
• Sue Akers - 12/1
• Stephen Otter - 12/1
• Lynne Owens - 14/1
• Brian Paddick - 100/1

The Metropolitan Police Authority statement, which we were expecting about now, will follow a press conference by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

A bit more on PA reporter Laura Elston who we have heard will face no further action following her arrest last month. Press Association editor Jonathan Grun says royal reporter Ms Elston is a "journalist of integrity" and has had a distinguished career since joining PA. "We are pleased that this matter has been cleared up," he says.

"The prime minister has curtailed his trip. It was going to be four days but now it's going to be two days and he will back early on Wednesday to address the House of Commons. He says phone hacking is not the only thing on his desk. The economy is important, this is a trade visit and he thinks he can drum up substantial business in southern Africa. He says that to neglect that would be a mistake. But it leaves him vulnerable to fast-moving events."

We're told Assistant Commissioner John Yates will make a statement later this afternoon.

"Two things seem to have done for John Yates. He was the man charged with reviewing the hacking evidence. He only took eight hours to do that. And he was the man in charge of due diligence on Neil Wallis as PR contractor. It was that man who did for Paul Stephenson and it's almost certainly what has led to the resignation of John Yates."

London Mayor Boris Johnson says of the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates: "Both decisions are regrettable but the right call has been made. Nothing has been proven against the probity or professionalism of either man. But both were distracting in the run-up to the Olympic Games." He also said Mr Yates would be replaced by Cressida Dick and he praised Mr Yates for his work in fighting terrorism and "saving millions of Londoners".

Mr Yates resigned after being told he would be suspended as his conduct was being referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the Metropolitan Police Authority confirms.

Channel 4's Jon Snow asked Boris Johnson if he was "angry" or "emollient" about the links between the Met and Neil Wallis. Mr Johnson said: "I was disappointed that we weren't told about the contract with the News of the World guy and the concatenations were going to make it very difficult for them to do their job in the way they wanted to."

Home Secretary Theresa May says: "I have been informed that Assistant Commissioner John Yates has tended his resignation. I want to put on record my gratitude to John Yates for the work he has done while I have been home secretary, to develop and improve counter-terrorism policing in London and indeed across the UK."

The Metropolitan Police Authority releases a statement: "The MPA's Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee met today. The committee considered allegations concerning Assistant Commissioner John Yates and after lengthy and careful deliberations decided to suspend the Assistant Commissioner. Suspension is not a disciplinary sanction and it is emphasised that suspension should not be taken as a presumption of guilt. Assistant Commissioner Yates has been informed of this decision. A number of matters have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, including one involving Assistant Commissioner Yates...It is not our practice to release details about ongoing investigations."

BBC reporter Colette McBeth asks Boris Johnson if he regrets saying last year that the hacking story was "politically-motivated codswallop". He said: "When I was asked about the hacking inquiry in September/October 2010 I gave an answer based on what I knew then and if you look at the transcript I said if new evidence comes into the public domain I would change my mind. Things did change and it became clear that the scandal was far worse than had been indicated and these loathsome practices were widespread and, of course, I changed my view."

Asked about the phone-hacking scandal and resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson during a visit to the Olympic Park, former Prime Minister Tony Blair says it is not the time to "go into all this now". "But the one thing I'm sure is that Sir Paul will have put in place proper arrangements and we will make sure that the security works here."

Labour MP Chris Bryant says people will be asking whether there are different sets of rules for politicians and police.

He says Sir Paul has said he felt it was all right to ask Neil Wallis to work at the Met because Mr Wallis had only been the deputy editor at the News of the World and David Cameron had appointed a former editor of the newspaper.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott says Boris Johnson needs to face the fact that his initial judgement on the phone-hacking scandal was wrong.

Lord Prescott says he would like to see a responsible press and a clean-up of the relationship between the media and the police. And he says the relationship between politicians and media has been too cosy.

News Corporation is institutionalising the process of dealing with the police and cleaning up its UK operations by lifting its management standards committee out of its UK arm, News International. The committee will now become part of News Corporation and will report to a News Corp director, Joel Klein.

It will be housed in a secure office and will be under the part-time chairmanship of well-known barrister, Lord Grabiner, who is also chairman of Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group, owner of Top Shop.

As a result of the reorganisation, two senior News International employees - William Lewis and Simon Greenberg - will give up their current jobs and become News Corporation staff, engaged full time in the clean-up of News International.

John Yates's defiance didn't last long.

Metropolitan Police Authority member Dee Doocey, the Lib Dem policing spokeswoman, criticises Mr Yates for spending "just eight hours reviewing 11,000 pages of evidence within which were buried details of the most heinous crimes".

"Literally hundreds of victims of phone hacking were failed and his resignation is long overdue. He made a monumental error of judgment which rendered his position untenable."

John Yates's replacement Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick oversaw the operation which led to the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005.

She was cleared of any blame by a jury at the end of the prosecution of the Metropolitan Police under health and safety laws in 2007.

Home Secretary Theresa May is addressing the Commons.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says events at the Metropolitan Police will have left some people unsettled because of fears a criminal investigation may have been compromised. But he says people should be reassured the police are still working to protect them.

He refuses to be drawn into comparisons of the situation at the Met with Prime Minister David Cameron's hiring of former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, saying things need to be kept in perspective.

Mrs May tells MPs she has already started work with London Mayor Boris Johnson and the Metropolitan Police to arrange an orderly transition and the appointment of a new commissioner after Sir Paul Stephenson's resignation.

Home Secretary Theresa May says: "There is nothing more important than the public's trust in the police to do their work without fear or favour."

Mrs May says she has commissioned work to see if the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) needs more powers including the right to question civilians in the course of its investigations.

Mrs May continues: "These allegations are not, unfortunately, the only recent example of alleged corruption and nepotism in the police. So I can tell the House that I have asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to consider instances of undue influence, inappropriate contractual arrangements and other abuses of power in police relationships with the media and other parties. I have asked HMIC to make recommendations to me about what needs to be done to address it."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asks Mrs May to apologise on behalf of the prime minister for Downing Street's hiring of former News of the World editor Andy Coulson.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper says Sir Paul's resignation raises important questions for the prime minister and the home secretary.

She says Sir Paul resigned over the appointment of former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis "yet the prime minister is still refusing to answer questions or apologise for his appointment of the former editor of the News of the World".

"People will look at this and think it's one rule for the police and one rule for the prime minister."

Mrs May accuses Yvette Cooper of "have-your-cake-and-eat-it" politics. The Labour government took no action on the Met's investigation of phone-hacking allegations despite warnings contained in reports, she says.

In South Africa, David Cameron says John Yates was a "well-respected detective, and has more recently provided strong leadership on counter-terrorism policing".

"As I said this morning, what matters now is that we ensure swift and effective continuity at the Metropolitan Police Service."

More from Mrs May's statement in the Commons: "I know that the whole House will agree with me that it is for the sake of the many thousands of honourable police officers and staff, as well as for the public they serve, that we must get to the bottom of all of these allegations. Only then will we be able to ensure the integrity of our police and public confidence in them to do their vital work."

Theresa May's statement was delayed slightly by new developments to the story

"This is an episode like we've never seen before in the Met's long history."

She says Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates's connection to one man has brought them down. "I think we can't stress too strongly that this is seismic for the Met."

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Peter Smyth says News International have cast aspersions against police but haven't shown any actual evidence of corruption. He is concerned that no-one's proved any wrongdoing against Sir Paul or John Yates "but everybody's calling for their heads". But Mr Smyth says many officers effectively work in silos and won't be distracted from their investigations by the latest developments at the Met.

We're expecting to hear from John Yates on his resignation in 10 to 15 minutes.

Downing Street adds to the list of David Cameron's contacts with senior media figures. It says the list now includes a sixth meeting with Rebekah Brooks and a lunch with the BBC.

In answer to a question in the Commons, Theresa May says the appointment of police commissioners and deputy commissioners will remain the responsibility of the home secretary.

David Cameron is flying back from Africa early to prepare for Wednesday's statement to the Commons. He will now leave Lagos during the afternoon so he can get back to the UK by Tuesday evening, instead of early on Wednesday morning.

The prime minister will still give a speech and a press conference in Nigeria tomorrow, but will miss a social event and a visit to a power station.

Clearly Labour intends to keep rubbing away at the wound that is the appointment of Andy Coulson.

Read our profile of John Yates who resigned as Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner today.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission says it will make a statement shortly on what the Metropolitan Police Authority has asked it to investigate regarding John Yates.

Conservative Metropolitan Police Authority member Victoria Borwick says John Yates's resignation was necessary and the MPA acted quickly.

"The final revelations - if you can call them that - only came out this weekend and the professional standards committee met this morning, so I think that's quite a speedy response."

Liberal Democrat MP and Culture, Media and Sport Committee member Adrian Sanders says he suspects tomorrow's hearing will be "a plodding session". MPs will have to ask the right forensic questions, he says. "There is a lot of interest out there - right across the board."

John Yates is making a statement. He says he made his decision to resign with "great regret".

Mr Yates says the "ill-informed and downright malicious gossip" published about him, had the potential to distract him in his role in counter-terrorism. "I have acted with complete integrity. My conscience is clear."

Mr Yates says he looks forward to the judge-led inquiry when, he says, his actions will be judged on evidence rather than innuendo.

In a statement, the Independent Police Complaints Commission says it has received five referrals from the Metropolitan Police Authority regarding the actions of current and former senior Scotland Yard officers over the phone-hacking scandal.

The matters referred to the IPCC involve:

• The conduct of the Met commissioner in carrying overall responsibility for the investigation into phone hacking

• The conduct of Assistant Commissioner John Yates: in his review in July 2009 and overall role in relation to the phone-hacking investigation; and in his alleged involvement in inappropriately securing employment for the daughter of a friend

• The conduct of two former senior officers in their role in the phone-hacking investigation.

The BBC understands that the two senior officers named in the IPCC's investigation are former Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke and former Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman.

The BBC has obtained a letter from the Nathan Cummings Foundation in New York - a small shareholder in News Corporation - to the company's board. The letter calls for higher standards in transparency and governance in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal. The foundation, which has in the past criticised News Corp's corporate political spending, says: "Given the shocking allegations about News International's practices in Britain, which have raised questions about the company's credibility and had a significant downward impact on its stock price, we believe it is now more important than ever that the company is transparent about its political spending and policies."

Deborah Glass, of the IPCC, reads out a statement which the commission published earlier. She says she will publish the terms of reference once she has reviewed the material referred to it. "I will ensure that our investigation follows the evidence without fear or favour," she says.

The letter, signed by the Nathan Cummings Foundation CEO Lance E Lindblom and director of sharehold activities Laura Campos, continues: "The recent scandals surrounding phone hacking and bribery allegations make it even more imperative that the company hold itself to the highest standards of transparency and governance... Unfortunately for shareholders, the scandal shows no signs of abating. The Board must therefore clearly demonstrate to shareholders and the public that it is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance, including the establishment of best practice standards to guide corporate political spending."

Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre tells a House of Lords committee that he has never countenanced phone hacking nor the process of obtaining personal information known as blagging.

The BBC's Tom Symonds understands the referral received by the IPCC relating to John Yates's alleged involvement in inappropriately securing employment for the daughter of a friend refers to the daughter of Neil Wallis. Mr Wallis, the former deputy editor of the News of the World, was arrested last week.

More from the Daily Mail editor-in-chief, who says his newspaper has never published a story based on a hacked message.

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Lord Blair, who was replaced by Sir Paul Stephenson, asks whether two resignations from the job in just two-and-a-half years "indicates that something is gravely wrong with the political oversight and governance of the Met". Lord Blair quit in 2008 following disagreements with London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee confirms it will hear evidence from John Yates tomorrow afternoon, in the same session as Sir Paul Stephenson and Scotland Yard's director of public affairs, Dick Fedorchio.

Also giving evidence tomorrow will be Lord MacDonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who is advising the News of the World, the current DPP Keir Starmer QC and Mark Lewis, the solicitor representing the Dowler family.

Darrell West, vice-president for government studies at the Brookings Institute in Washington DC, says the hacking scandal is being watched very closely in the US, where News Corp figures could face corruption charges. "If there is evidence of that kind of bad behaviour there could be very severe legal repercussions that come out of it," he tells the BBC.

A statement from Herts Police says officers were called to a property in Watford, north of London, at 1040 BST today. The death "is currently being treated as unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious," it says. Their investigations are ongoing.

Mr Hoare was one of the first people to make allegations about phone hacking at the News of the World.

The BBC understands that Amy Wallis, the daughter of Neil Wallis, is a member of the Metropolitan Police Service Staff, working in a non-operational civilian role. Earlier we found out the IPCC would be looking into resigned Assistant Commissioner John Yates's "alleged involvement in inappropriately securing employment for the daughter of a friend".

Sean Hoare had publicly admitted his role in phone hacking - he told the BBC's Panorama programme last year that the tactic was "endemic" at News of the World and that he had been ordered to do it by then-editor Andy Coulson. Mr Coulson has denied the allegations.

The BBC's Caroline Hepker, at the New York Stock Exchange, says shares in News Corp have dropped 13% since 4 July. The scandal has wiped $6bn (£3.7bn) off the value of the company, says our correspondent.

Stephen O'Connell, of the Metropolitan Police Authority, tells the BBC that John Yates and Sir Paul Stephenson were "absolutely outstanding in their service to Londoners" but the reasons for their resignations were "clear". "London has got a lot of challenges going forward into 2012 - with the Olympics, terrorism - and I think it's absolutely right that desks are cleared so that the Met can concentrate on protecting Londoners."

It has been another day of rapid developments in the phone-hacking scandal. After insisting he would not go, Sir John Yates has resigned as assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police. And Sean Hoare, the first News of the World reporter to make allegations of hacking, has been found dead at his home in what police say are unexplained but not suspicious circumstances.

The Home Affairs Committee is sitting again on Tuesday. Mr Yates has been called to give evidence, along with Sir Paul Stephenson, who resigned as head of the Met on Sunday. Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch is to be questioned tomorrow by the Culture, Media and Sports committee. He will be joined by his son, James - who heads the UK arm of the company - and by the former News of the World editor, Rebekah Brooks. We'll be here again, bringing you all the latest from the hearing and any other developments. For now, good night and thanks for joining us.