Rupert Murdoch and his son, James, were contrite during
questioning by British Members of Parliament (MPs). Murdoch senior
called it the "most humble" day of his life and Murdoch junior
calling the hacking a matter of "great regret".
But it wasn't all about eating humble pie, both figurative and
real (Click here to watch the attempted 'pie attack'
on Murdoch senior during the testimony).
Responding to a question from Damian Collins, a Conservative MP
on the Culture Media and Sport Committee, on where the limits of
investigative journalism lie, Murdoch went on the offensive and
took a dig at members of parliament, several of whom were embroiled
in an embarrassing scandal last year for padding their
expenses.
"When the Daily Telegraph bought a series of stolen documents of
all the expenses of MPs, it caused a huge outcry, one which I feel
has not been properly addressed," Murdoch said.
Murdoch said that Singapore's model of paying politicians
millions of dollars had created a cleaner and more transparent
government and one that Britain should emulate.
"I think there is an answer to it, and we ought to look at them
as open and clear as a society in the world, which is Singapore -
where every minister gets at least a million dollars a year and the
prime minister a lot more and there is no temptation and it is as
clean a society as you find anywhere."
Murdoch said it was "ridiculous" that parliamentarians were
reduced to claiming fake expenses in order to make up for their
income.
Murdoch's comment brought about plenty of mumbling from those
present, including someone who quipped: "good luck in selling that
to anyone here," accompanied by lots of laughter.
