British lawmaker with leading role in hacking hearings quits

LONDON (AFP) - High-profile British lawmaker Louise Mensch, who played a leading role in parliamentary hearings over the phone-hacking scandal, announced on Monday that she is quitting to move to New York with her family.

Mrs Mensch, 41, a prominent presence on Twitter who recently set up her own social network, tweeted: "I am devastated by the necessary decision that I have had to announce today.

"It has, however, proved impossible to balance the needs of my family." The Conservative MP's husband Peter Mensch is the manager of hard rock band Metallica and lives in New York.

They were married a year ago in Manhattan, but Mrs Mensch has three children from a previous marriage who live with her in Britain.