ATV Reports: Former PM Gordon Brown Targeted By News International

The Guardian and Independent newspapers broke the news today that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown had allegedly been the target of phone hacking and ‘blagging’.

The Guardian and Independent newspapers broke the news today that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown had allegedly been the target of phone hacking attempts and ‘blagging’. It is reported that someone acting on behalf of the The Sunday Times managed to obtain details of Mr Brown’s bank details. The allegations this time do not involve News of the World, but News International’s other newspapers The Sunday Times and The Sun.

It is also alleged that The Sun obtained medical records of Gordon Brown’s son Fraser. The Sun broke the news in 2006 that his son had cystic fibrosis. News International have reacted to the news by announcing that they will be investigating the claims.

“We note the allegations made today concerning the reporting of matters relating to Gordon Brown. So that we can investigate these matters further, we ask that all information concerning these allegations is provided to us.” – News International Statement.

Royal Family Contact Details Sold? Earlier today the BBC’s Robert Peston revealed that News of the World were paying a royal protection officer for contact details of senior members of the royal family. In his blog Peston said;

“According to a source, the e-mails include requests by a reporter for sums of about £1,000 to pay police officers in the royal protection branch for the information. The phone details could have been used to hack phones of the royal family.”

The former royal editor for the newspaper was jailed in 2007 for hacking into voicemail messages from the Royal Household. Glen Mulcaire, the private investigator who has been at the centre of the recent allegations, was also jailed.