David Cameron was today besieged by calls from Boris Johnson, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband for a powerful judge to be put in charge of the hacking scandals inquiry.
A series of senior level interventions left the Prime Minister under huge pressure to act more quickly and to agree the toughest possible powers for the investigations into News International and the police.
In addition, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called on him to hand over critical decisions on the inquiry terms to another Cabinet minister, saying Downing Street was too tainted by its link with the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson.
Mr Cameron yesterday promised one or more public and independent inquiries covering the ethics of News International and the failure of the original police investigation to uncover the truth. However, he has refused to be drawn on the type of inquiry.
London Mayor Mr Johnson said: "I certainly think there should be a judge-led inquiry and I think it should be immediate. I think there should be no holds barred. Get the editors, get the proprietors in and let's hear exactly what has been going on." He suggested an outside force should provide "external validation" of the Met's own inquiry. "There has to be confidence that this is not just the police washing their dirty linen."
Mr Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, made clear he wants a judge to be in charge of the investigation of police links with the media. Lib-Dem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne joined the pressure, saying: "Frankly, the judge has got to be able to rely on evidence given under oath."
A judge can be empowered to summon documents and compel witnesses to give evidence under oath, as well as having greater authority than a QC or a former minister or civil servant. It would be a crime to lie under oath.
Labour MP Chris Bryant, the leading campaigner for the clean-up of News International, said a judge must be appointed soon "before somebody starts shredding it [the evidence]".
Mr Miliband said the "grotesque beyond belief" claims that dead soldiers' families had been hacked reinforced the case "for a public inquiry to be swiftly established so that justice can be done and the truth established".
Phone hacking Questions and Answers...
Why does this all matter?
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It is against the law to intercept mobile phone voicemail. If NoW executives ordered Mulcaire to hack the phones, they could be charged. Allegations could also damage police, politicians and Rupert Murdoch's business interests.
How has News International responded to news of an inquiry?
It welcomed a public inquiry into media standards and pledged to help the police probe. There were apologies for intercepting voicemails between 2004 and 2006 and several stars got compensation.
What is the law on hacking?
It is illegal to gain access to another person's phone under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. There are also offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The UK's security services can apply for warrants to hack phones.
