Piers Morgan gets ‘stroppy’ after grilling over phone hacking scandal-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Piers Morgan became increasingly agitated after Laura Kuenssberg pressed him on his knowledge of phone hacking while he was a newspaper editor.

Viewers of BBC politics show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg said Morgan, 59, looked ‘stroppy’ when the journalist, 47, asked whether he listened to voicemails without consent.

Morgan denied any knowledge of phone hacking and insisted there was ‘no evidence’ he had been involved in the scandal, which rocked the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). Morgan was the Daily Mirror’s editor between 1995 and 2004.

Last year a High Court judge concluded that ‘there can be no doubt’ that editors of MGN’s titles knew about voicemail interception, but did not tell the company’s board or chief executive about it.

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that unlawful information-gathering was ‘widespread’ at MGN publications The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Mirror and The People 1996 onwards, and phone hacking became ‘habitual’ from 1998.

On Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the host asked Morgan: ‘Did you know that anyone at the paper was using material that they got by hacking voicemails?’

Morgan said there was ‘no evidence’ he had hacked phones (Picture: Emily Manley)

Morgan complained Kuenssberg had asked him the same questions before (Picture: BBC/UNPIXS)

Morgan responded: ‘On this central point, I’ve said for 20 years I did not know about phone hacking of the Daily Mirror.

‘They found one story in that whole case, which may or may not have come from phone hacking. And, I’m sorry, that’s not enough.’

Kuenssberg then referred to the High Court case during which Mr Fancourt accepted evidence from several witnesses who claimed Morgan was aware that stories being published were the product of phon hacking.

She probed: ‘So you’re saying today that the High Court is wrong and that Judge Fancourt is wrong?’

Kuenssberg said she wanted to make the record ‘absolutely clear’ (Picture: Emily Manley)

Morgan replied: ‘I’m going to repeat myself, again, there is no evidence that I ever knew about phone hacking.

And I would also say in relation to those who trotted down to the High Court to give evidence, I was never allowed that privilege. I wasn’t called by either side to talk about this at all.

‘And I became the front poster boy for the trial, which I found ludicrous. There are a lot of people down there spewing utter nonsense.’

Kuenssberg continued: ‘You say there is no evidence you were aware…?’

Morgan interjected: ‘There isn’t.’

Kuenssberg carried on: ‘But I’m asking you directly, were you aware?’

Morgan was all smiles before being interviewed on the BBC show (Picture: Zumapress.com/Mega)

Morgan commented: ‘I’ve just answered you.

Kuenssberg continued: ‘And have you ever listened to a voicemail without the consent of the person whose phone it was?’

Morgan said sounding agitated: ‘No. You asked me that last time.’

Kuenssberg said before being interrupted by Morgan: ‘You didn’t quite answer it.’

Morgan continued: ‘Each time I come on, you can ask me the same questions, I don’t mind. I’ve been asked about this for 20 years. There is no evidence that I knew.’

Viewers thought Morgan might storm out of the studio again (Picture: ITV)

Kuenssberg then tried several times to interject but successfully asking Morgan: ‘I’m giving you that opportunity right now – just to get this absolutely on the record – I’m not asking if there is evidence, I’m asking you directly: have you ever…’

Sounding incredulous Morgan interrupted: ‘I just answered you.’

Kuenssberg continued: ‘Have you ever listened to the voicemail message of somebody without their consent?’

‘No,’ Morgan responded. ‘I’ve just answered you.’

After the interview, viewers commented on Morgan’s reaction on X, with @Tush27J saying: ‘And we go live to Piers Morgan getting stroppy re questions on phone hacking and having a go at #PrinceHarry AGAIN.’

@Glaikitgit wrote: Piers Morgan deploying the Bart Simpson Defence over the Phone Hacking scandal he presided over! High Court Judge says he knew. Morgan has his usual rant and goes with ‘plausible deniability’ of no evidence that he knew!#bbclaurak.’

Several social media users also joked Morgan was on the verge of storming out of the studio, as he did so on Good Morning Britain when he was confronted over his criticism of Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.

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