Scrutinising Murdoch's Empire: The role of the Liberal Democrats

Months ago, Lib Dem MP Vince Cable was in hot water over his comments that he had 'declared war on Murdoch'. Now, with the phone hacking scandal revealing the full breadth of News International's criminal activity, and the involvement of the Conservative and Labour partys over the last decade, Vince Cable said: 'It is like the end of a dictatorship when everyone discovers they were against the dictator'.

As questions are asked about Prime Minister David Cameron's links with disgraced News International editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, the Liberal Democrats remain steadfastly committed to rooting out the corruption from Briitish media, British police, and British politics.

Labour and the Conservatives have both long been keen to cosy up to News International

Tony Blair preferred to jet to Hayman Island, Australia, to attend a Rupert Murdoch-organised conference in 1995 and court his support rather than address the Durham Miner's Gala. He also spoke at length to Murdoch on the eve of the Iraq War.

The first person to phone and wish Andy Coulson well after he resigned from the News of the World was Gordon Brown. Gordon Brown and David Cameron both attended Rebekah Brooks' wedding. Ed Miliband has employed News International/ Times journalist Tom Baldwin.

The Conservatives have long wooed News International and succeeded in winning support from the Sun during Labour Party Conference 2009. David Cameron famously hired former News of the World editor Andy Coulson despite the former journalist resigning from the paper in the wake of Clive Goodman's conviction.

Last month, both Ed Miliband and David Cameron attended Murdoch's summer party, as did many of their front bench teams. No one discussed phone hacking. No Liberal Democrat attended.

The Liberal Democrats alone have remained unwilling to bend to suit News International's agenda.