James Murdoch refuses to rule out 'The Sun' closure

News International executive chairman James Murdoch has refused to rule out closing The Sun should there be evidence that the paper was involved in the phone hacking scandal.

In his second appearance in front of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, Murdoch was asked more probing questions about the hacking controversy, which resulted in the closure of News International's News of the World tabloid in July.

Committee member Steve Rotherham MP asked Murdoch: "If it's revealed that The Sun does appear in the [jailed private investor Glenn] Mulcaire file, will you close the paper like you did the News of the World?"

To this, Murdoch replied: "I think it's important not to prejudge the outcome of any of the investigations. I don't think we can rule out any corporate reaction to [illegal] behaviour or wrongdoing."

He added that any decision about closing the flagship newspaper would be "taken at the time".

Rotherham, who is the MP for Liverpool Walton, also asked Murdoch about the ongoing controversy surrounding The Sun's notorious 1989 article on the Hillsborough football ground disaster.

The MP asked whether the fact that the paper "got away with it" in the 1980s could have led to a belief within News International that it "could get away with things".

Murdoch denied the suggestion, but again apologised unreservedly for the coverage, which resulted in a boycott on The Sun in Liverpool that lasts in part to this day.