News company ‘watched politicians’

Mark Lewis, who was himself tailed by a private detective hired by the media company, said Labour MP and hacking campaigner Tom Watson was among those named in a report he was given by police.

Mr Lewis told Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday that he planned to bring a civil claim for breach of privacy against News International, former publishers of the News of the World.

He said documents suggested the move to put politicians under surveillance was ordered “by someone at News International”. Mr Lewis’s clients include the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose voicemails were illegally intercepted by the News of the World after she went missing in 2002.

News International said on Monday that it was “deeply inappropriate” that it hired private investigator Derek Webb to spy on Mr Lewis. Yesterday The it declined to comment further.