When no buyer emerged, Hearst unplugged the presses, tossed most of the staff, and morphed the P-I into an online operation that is a shadow of its former self.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the potential disruption of the intelligence-sharing operation between the UK and the US would have "serious consequences" for Britain's national security.
For Labour, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was clear that the security services and police were concerned about the operation of TPims and the possible impact on UK security.