MPs will today decide whether to use parliamentary powers to force beleaguered News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks to attend a parliamentary hearing.
The culture, media and sport select committee have said they will summon Brooks to answer questions about the phone hacking scandal. They have also asked Rupert and James Murdoch to answer questions about the allegations.
A News International spokesman has previously said they would "cooperate" with the request, but it is unclear if all three will attend the hearing. Their reply to the committee's invitation is due by 09:00 on Thursday.
This morning committee member Louise Mensch told the BBC: "We have powers over British citizens, in other words over Mrs Brooks.
"Rupert and James Murdoch are American citizens, we don't have any power over them, but I think it would surprise everybody if they were to have the guts to show up.
"It would show a little bit of leadership, it would be the first step in lancing this giant boil.
"I would urge them to come before a select committee of parliament, to have the courage to show up and answer the questions."
The chair of the committee John Whittingdale told parliament yesterday that Rupert Murdoch would be "forever tarred" by the allegations that the News of the World hacked the phones of murder victim Milly Dowler and bereaved military families.
"The Committee decided that we wanted to hear from Rebekah Brooks because she is the chief executive of News International, and from James Murdoch because he was until recently the chairman of News International in this country. We have also asked Rupert Murdoch to appear, because he is essentially synonymous with News Corporation."