The News of the World is at the centre of a major scandal in the UK amid allegations that it tapped the phones of high-profile figures. The tabloid newspaper has reportedly paid out around £1m in out-of-court settlements with some of the victims. The Guardian says former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, London Mayor Boris Johnson and PR consultant Max Clifford were among those whose phone messages were intercepted by private investigators working for the News of the World. Two years ago, the newspaper's royal editor, Clive Goodman, was jailed for tapping into the voice messages of royal staff.