The British prime minister became linked to the scandal because he had appointed as his director of communications

The British prime minister became linked to the scandal because he had appointed as his director of communications, Andy Coulson, who had been News of the World editor during the time most phone-hacking is alleged to have taken place at the tabloid.

Mr Cameron said if allegations were true that a private investigator hacked into the phone of missing teenager Milly Dowler, "this is a truly dreadful act".
But former News of the World features editor Paul McMullan said Mr Cameron knew full well that phone hacking was going on, but turned a blind eye because, Mr McMullan says, the Murdoch empire has helped make prime ministers for the past three decades.
Mr Cameron later announced two inquiries - one into the hacking scandal and another into cosy relationships between journalists, police and politicians.
"It's no good actually just criticising the police. The truth is, to coin a phrase, we've all been in this together," he said.
That was an interesting choice of words, as 'We're all in this together' was the slogan for Mr Cameron's 2010 election campaign.