Ed Miliband's silence over the Mirror Group's phone-hacking could be due to his desire not to offend the one news organisation arguing in his favour, William Hague has said. (Picture: Reuters)

The Commons Leader added all hacking allegations should be "fairly and thoroughly" investigated by the relevant authorities.

Philip Davies, a Tory member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, questioned why Labour had yet to "raise a breath" over the issue – in contrast to hacking by the now defunct News of the World.