UK lawmakers say Rupert Murdoch 'unfit person' to run News Corp

London, May 1 (ANI): Rupert Murdoch is not 'a fit person' to run an international company as the media tycoon he showed "wilful blindness" to the extent of phone-hacking at the now defunct tabloid News of the World, a damming report by British lawmakers has concluded.

The report into allegations of phone-hacking at NOTW, published by the culture, media and sport committee, said Murdoch "turned a blind eye" to what was going on at News International as it sought to "cover up wrongdoing".

"The culture of cover-up "permeated from the top throughout the organization, and speaks volumes about the lack of effective corporate governance at News Corporation and News International," the report said.

"Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company, and together with his son James should take "ultimate responsibility" for the scandal," it added.

According to The Telegraph, the committee's 121-page report, published today, pulls no punches in its damning criticism of News Corp's most senior executives.

The report said 'former NI chairman James Murdoch showed "wilful ignorance" of what was going on under his nose, the News of the World's last editor, Colin Myler, and its former head lawyer, Tom Crone, "answered questions falsely" when they gave evidence'.

According to the paper the report also said that 'Rebekah Brooks, the former NI chief executive, "should accept responsibility" for what happened, even if she was unaware of how far it went.'

The report also said that the Metropolitan Police as a whole "had no interest or willingness to uncover the full extent of the phone-hacking which had taken place". (ANI)