During that time, James Murdoch, European chief executive of News International, personally authorised at least one substantial settlement payment to a victim of phone hacking, in exchange for signing a gagging clause. That has led MPs to accuse News International of a "cover-up on a massive scale" and of misleading Parliament. The latest twist in the scandal that forced the closure of the News of the World left Mr Murdoch and his allies fighting to prevent the affair doing further damage to the wider Murdoch media empire. Despite the damage-limitation exercise, political pressure on the company continued to mount yesterday. In another blow to Mr Murdoch, there were signs that David Cameron, under pressure from Labour and his Liberal Democrat partners, is preparing to sanction a new and potentially damaging delay in News Corporation's bid to take over British Sky Broadcasting. News Corp is News International's parent