Brooks has been called to the Inquiry today, which is looking into press standards following the NOTW scandal, as Lord Leveson moves his investigation into the relationship between press and politicians.

She was first arrested last July on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption charges, bailed and rearrested in March 2012 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. She was again bailed, and will be recalled to court later this month. As a result, today she will not be asked any question that could prejudice a criminal investigation.

She resigned from her post as Editor of News of the World following the phone hacking scandal and the subsequent closure of the newspaper last year. She was latterly arrested on charges of corruption, phone hacking and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Brooks had a famously close relation with Prime Minister David Cameron: she was a regular visitor to Number 10, and even received a text from Mr Cameron on the day she resigned her post.

Under her editorship, the most shocking elements of the phone hacking scandal took place, including the accessing of murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler’s voicemail during her disappearance. Reporters are also believed to have deleted certain messages, giving her family hope that Millie was still alive.

Rebekah Brooks denies all knowledge of phone hacking on her watch, and also denies that she sanctioned any corrupt payments to police – a second element of the investigation.