36. Tom Watson

Job: MP for West Bromwich East Age: 45 Industry: politics 2011 ranking: 45 Love him or loathe him – and there seems little doubt how he is regarded by News Corporation – Tom Watson continues to be a leading protagonist in the phone-hacking story. Watson took his one-man campaign against Rupert Murdoch all the way to the News Corp AGM in Los Angeles. He also tabled the controversial amendment stating that Murdoch was not fit to run an international company as the Commons culture select committee finalised its phone-hacking report. Some believe this politicised the report unnecessarily . But whatever the answer, Watson is unlikely to disappear as a thorn in Murdoch's side. "He overplayed his hand in the end but you can't blame him," said our panel. "He is the man who almost singlehandedly brought down the world's most powerful media mogul." Watson also found time this year to co-write the book Dial M for Murdoch – again received more favourably in some quarters than others .