I’m not so sure about this alleged Guardian/BBC axis. Of course they are reporting this - its big news after all - but I think your statement about them “regretting helping to open this particular can of worms” is in itself a very good reason why they would not push it. This investigation is going to run and run, and as you say, its unlikely to just indite NI at the end of the day.
“But it’s an open secret that phone hacking is rife among British tabloids”
Is this much true?