MPs have released a letter from journalist Clive Goodman, jailed for phone hacking, alleging senior News of the World figures knew what was going on.
Former royal editor Goodman wrote the letter to News International as he appealed against his dismissal in 2007.
The House of Commons Culture Select Committee, which earlier said it might recall James Murdoch, published the letter.
In the letter Goodman writes: ‘The Editor promised on many occasions that I could come back to a job at the newspaper if I did not implicate the paper or any of its staff in my mitigation plea.’
News International said at the time that Goodman had acted alone and no other journalists were involved in hacking.
The letter, published on the MPs’ committee website, was copied to Les Hinton, News International’s then executive chairman, and Stuart Kuttner, the then managing editor of the News of the World.
Appealing against his dismissal, Goodman wrote: ‘The decision is perverse in that the actions leading to this criminal charge were carried out with the full knowledge and support of [redacted] payment for Glen Mulcaire’s services was arranged by [redacted].
‘The decision is inconsistent because [redacted] and other members of staff were carrying out the same illegal procedures.
‘This practice was widely discussed in the daily editorial conference, until explicit reference to it was banned by the Editor. As far as I am aware, no other member of staff has faced disciplinary action, much less dismissal.’
Former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson was the editor of the News of the World who quit following Goodman’s conviction to become PM Cameron’s press chief.
‘My conviction and imprisonment cannot be the real reason for my dismissal. The legal manager Tom Crone attended virtually every meeting of my legal team and was given full access to the Crown Prosecution Service’s evidence files,’ wrote the former News of the World reporter.
