Tom Watson: ban off the record briefings for journalists Speaking at a media convention in Oxford, Mr Watson, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of News International over phone hacking, called for an end to the tradition of Westminster "lobby briefings," whereby politicians "spoon feed" journalists with the stories they want to place. However, Mr Watson also argued that phone hacking can be justified in some circumstances. He called for a clear definition of what constitutes phone hacking and where it is wrong, in order to leave room for phone hacking to take place where it is clearly in the public interest. I would give clarity to what phone hacking is, because the argument from the cops and others is we don't know where it's bridged. "Actually, I do think there are circumstances where the public interest could be applied for phone hacking, but there are problems with who applies that," he said. He and George Eustace, conservative MP, and member of the Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions, also predicted that a Commons vote on the eventual legislative changes proposed will be whipped, but Mr Watson said he thought "it probably shouldn't be."