David Cameron today hinted he would not stand by beleaguered News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks.
He told Ed Miliband that everyone at News International had to "ask themselves some pretty searching questions", after the Labour leader urged the Prime Minister to back his call for Brooks to stand down.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, David Cameron also said he would support a public inquiry into the actions of the press in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.
But he was criticised by Ed Miliband for his judgement and for failing to show “the leadership necessary today”.
Mr Miliband said hiring former News of the World ediotr Andy Coulson as his spin chief was a "catastrophic error of judgement".
The Commons will hold an emergency debate on phone hacking this afternoon, where they will debate allegations of phone hacking after allegations emerged that the News of The World accessed voicemails from murdered teenager Milly Dowler, the families of 7/7 victims and others.
Justice Minister Crispin Blunt this morning said the Attorney General would reply to calls for a public inquiry later today.
He told BBC News: “That will be a matter for the Attorney General. He’s going to reply to that today for the Government, I think we better wait for Parliament this afternoon. The only observation I would make is that while there are criminal investigations going on, it is really quite difficult for the Government to say very much.”
The comments came after the officer in charge of the investigation into the hacking scandal was called to appear in front the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee member Paul Farrelly this morning said they would produce a report based on recent evidence given to them by Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates.