Ramos Leo
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has initiated a Cabinet Office investigation into serious allegations surrounding Labour Together, a prominent Labour-aligned think tank instrumental in his ascent to leadership. The move follows claims that the organisation commissioned a report from APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs firm, which delved into the background and alleged ideological positions of Gabriel Pogrund, a journalist for The Sunday Times. This development has ignited a fierce debate about press freedom, political ethics, and the extent of transparency within governmental circles, especially given Labour Together’s close ties to the current administration.
The controversy originated from a Sunday Times story that had reported on alleged undeclared donations within Labour Together prior to the 2024 general election. In response to this, Labour Together reportedly paid APCO Worldwide at least £30,000 to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of the newspaper’s story. However, it is the alleged scope of this investigation that has drawn widespread condemnation.
Sir Keir Starmer, addressing the allegations, stated emphatically that he "didn’t know anything" about APCO Worldwide’s investigative activities concerning the journalist. He swiftly added that the matter "absolutely needs to be looked into," signalling the gravity with which he views the claims. The decision to task the Cabinet Office with this inquiry places the investigation under the purview of the government’s central administrative body, tasked with supporting the Prime Minister and ensuring the efficient functioning of government.
The Labour Together organisation has played a significant role in shaping the modern Labour Party, particularly in its strategic direction and in supporting Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership bid. Its influence extends to policy development and electoral strategy, making the accusations particularly sensitive given the group’s proximity to the heart of government.
The Conservative Party was quick to criticise, with Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake asserting that Labour Together’s conduct "shows a worrying contempt for the free press." He raised pointed questions about the level of awareness within senior government circles, asking "who was aware of these actions, including whether senior figures around the prime minister knew." Hollinrake further urged the Labour Party to sever its links with Labour Together until an independent investigation could conclusively address the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party (SNP) expressed deep scepticism regarding the impartiality of a Cabinet Office-led investigation. Pete Wishart, the SNP’s Westminster deputy leader, dismissed it as "the Labour government trying to mark its own homework." He called for a more robust and transparent process, specifically advocating for a cross-party parliamentary inquiry to ensure genuine independence and public confidence in the findings.
At the centre of the controversy is Morgan McSweeney, a key figure within Labour Together and now a Cabinet Office minister. McSweeney initially denied any intention to investigate journalists, stating earlier this month that it was "nonsense" to make such a claim. He had clarified that his request to APCO Worldwide was to "look into a suspected illegal hack, which had nothing to do with UK journalists at Sunday Times, Guardian or any other brilliant UK newspaper." However, subsequent reports and the explicit terms of the contract with APCO Worldwide painted a different picture.
McSweeney later acknowledged that APCO Worldwide had exceeded its brief, expressing that he was "surprised and shocked to read the report extended beyond the contract by including unnecessary information on [Sunday Times journalist] Gabriel Pogrund." He maintained that upon discovering this, he had requested "this information to be removed" before subsequently passing the report to GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, security, and cyber agency. The precise nature of the "suspected illegal hack" and its connection to the Sunday Times story remains a point of contention and a key area for any investigation to clarify.
Sources close to the BBC have revealed alarming details about the alleged contents of APCO Worldwide’s report. It is claimed that the document included sensitive personal information about journalist Gabriel Pogrund, specifically referencing his Jewish beliefs and making assertions about his ideological stance. Even more controversially, the report allegedly suggested that Pogrund’s prior investigative journalism, including pieces on the royal family, "could be seen as destabilising to the UK and also in the interests of Russia’s strategic foreign policy objectives." These claims have been met with outrage, raising concerns about potential attempts to discredit journalists through personal and politically charged smears. Furthermore, it was reported that the contentious report was prepared by a former Sunday Times employee who is now working for APCO Worldwide, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
A contract addressed to McSweeney, and seen by BBC News, reportedly outlined APCO Worldwide’s explicit agreement to investigate not only "the sourcing, funding and origins" of the Sunday Times reporting but also specifically named the journalist Gabriel Pogrund, alongside Paul Holden and American reporter Matt Taibbi. This contractual detail directly contradicts the initial assertion that the investigation was solely focused on a "suspected illegal hack" and not on journalists themselves.
In response to the mounting pressure, a spokesperson for APCO Worldwide issued a statement: "We are deeply committed to upholding our values and standards as an organisation and treat any suggestion that we have failed to do so very seriously." The firm confirmed that it is "in the process of undertaking a detailed internal review of the project" and is "also in discussion with the PRCA [Public Relations and Communications Association], of which we are longstanding members, and will fully support them in their own review of this matter."
Ben Taylor, the editor of The Sunday Times, was unequivocal in his condemnation, dismissing the "excuses" offered by those at the top of Labour Together as insufficient. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Taylor revealed that "When the report came in, Labour Together people, some of whom are now in the cabinet, were quite happy to talk about its conclusions widely around Westminster – claims that the Sunday Times was being used by the Russian state to run disobliging stories about Labour and frankly cast doubt on the title and their reporters." This suggests that the report’s controversial conclusions were not only known but actively disseminated by individuals now holding senior government positions.
Within Labour’s own ranks, there have been calls for a more robust and independent inquiry. Veteran Labour MP John McDonnell disclosed that he had written to the Labour Party on four separate occasions regarding the matter, following initial reports by Democracy for Sale, the independent platform that first broke the story. McDonnell expressed his view on the Today programme that these were "serious allegations" that the "Labour Party should get on top of it." He recounted receiving a reply from the party’s general secretary stating that Labour Together was not a Labour organisation and that he should direct complaints about individual members to the complaints department. McDonnell found this response inadequate, stating, "I said that doesn’t meet the seriousness of this case." Following the announcement of the Cabinet Office investigation, McDonnell took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his scepticism: "So Cabinet Office is ‘assembling the facts’ into the activities of a Cabinet Office minister… could I suggest this hardly inspires confidences this will be the thorough and independent inquiry into the activities that is needed." Similarly, fellow Labour MP Richard Burgon echoed these sentiments, demanding that "The Labour Party needs to start taking these allegations very seriously. That means an independent investigation."
Alison Phillips, the current chief executive of Labour Together, who assumed her role after the APCO report was commissioned and delivered, has sought to distance the organisation from the contentious aspects of the investigation. She stated her commitment to ensuring Labour Together "aspires to the highest standards of probity at all times" and affirmed that the organisation stands "ready to support the PRCA [and other relevant governance bodies] with its review of this issue." In an internal email to staff, also seen by the BBC, Phillips conveyed her personal shock and concern: "The allegations of recent days have been shocking to read and I know they have been deeply concerning for many of you. As a former journalist and editor, it should come as no surprise that I was horrified that investigators hired by Labour Together would look into the background and sources of reporters even if I am assured that this was not the intention."
The unfolding investigation is set to scrutinise not only the specifics of the APCO Worldwide report and its commissioning but also the broader ethical implications for press freedom and the conduct of political organisations closely linked to government. The outcome will be closely watched by journalists, political rivals, and the public alike, as it will inevitably reflect on the transparency and accountability of the new government and its allies.
Roy Suryo
atisusanti
Nakalama John
Nana Banana