The PCC's ruling over the News of the World phone tapping scandal has according to the
Guardian this morning been attacked by MP's
Its report was described as a "whitewash" and there was a promise that another inquiry, from the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, would be more rigorous.
In a report published, the PCC also said it was not "materially misled" by executives at Rupert Murdoch's tabloid and that it did not believe senior managers at the paper knew reporters had illegally intercepted phone message left on mobile phones.
The new ruling centred around the Guardian's revelation that the paper had paid out £1m in confidential damages and legal fees to Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association, and two others, over hacking claims.
However
While acknowledging the Guardian had "produced one new significant fact" in its revelations of the Gordon Taylor settlement, and had performed a "perfectly legitimate function" in further scrutinising activity at the Sunday paper, it added that in presenting its story, the Guardian had obligations requiring it to "take care not to publish distorted or misleading information".