Ramos Leo
Labour MP Josh Simons has resigned from his position as a Cabinet Office minister, a decision that comes just days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer instructed his ethics adviser to launch an investigation into his conduct. The resignation of the Member of Parliament for Makerfield marks a significant development in a controversy that has drawn scrutiny to the intersection of political think tanks, journalism, and ethical standards within government.
The core of the issue stems from allegations that Labour Together, a prominent left-of-centre think tank that Simons previously led, commissioned a report aimed at delving into the backgrounds of journalists. The think tank, widely recognised for its instrumental role in Sir Keir Starmer’s successful campaign to become Labour leader, reportedly paid the US public affairs firm APCO Worldwide a sum of at least £30,000 for this investigation. The stated objective of this commission was to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of a Sunday Times story concerning undeclared donations within Labour Together itself, ahead of the anticipated 2024 general election.
The nature of the information gathered by APCO Worldwide quickly became the focal point of widespread criticism and concern. The firm’s report reportedly included sensitive personal details about journalist Gabriel Pogrund, who works for both the Sunday Times and the Guardian. Specifically, it is claimed to have referenced Pogrund’s Jewish beliefs and made assertions regarding his ideological stance. Furthermore, sources familiar with the report’s contents, as reported by the Sunday Times and subsequently confirmed to the BBC, indicated that it suggested Pogrund’s prior reporting, including on the Royal Family, "could be seen as destabilising to the UK and also in the interests of Russia’s strategic foreign policy objectives." The BBC has stated it has not seen the full APCO Worldwide report, but the details provided by these sources have been confirmed.
Beyond Gabriel Pogrund, a contract addressed to Josh Simons and seen by the BBC also detailed plans to investigate journalist Paul Holden and American reporter Matt Taibbi. This broader scope of investigation intensified the controversy, raising serious questions about press freedom and the potential for political entities to use private firms to gather potentially intrusive information on journalists.
Confirming his resignation on the social media platform X, the 32-year-old Labour MP stated he had "become a distraction from this government’s important work." In his resignation letter, Simons specifically addressed the allegations, asserting that he "never sought to smear" the Guardian and Sunday Times journalists who were investigated by APCO Worldwide, and paid tribute to their professional work. This statement came after an initial defence where he had suggested the company undertaking the research for Labour Together had "gone beyond" the brief it had been given.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in accepting Simons’ resignation, expressed his sadness and extended thanks for the "commitment, focus, and energy" Simons had brought to his ministerial office. Crucially, Sir Keir also highlighted that his ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, had concluded that Simons had not, in fact, breached the ministerial code. This finding added a layer of complexity to the situation, suggesting that while Simons’ actions might not have technically violated formal ministerial rules, the perception and impact of the events necessitated his departure.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Laurie Magnus detailed his findings, noting that the Makerfield MP had subsequently accepted that the terms he had agreed upon with APCO Worldwide were "wider than he had understood" at the time, and that he had acted "too hastily in confirming their appointment." Sir Laurie affirmed that Simons had acted "in good faith" throughout the process. However, he added that the MP acknowledged the "perceived gap between his public statements and what he now accepts appears to be a more extensive scope has been damaging." This distinction suggests that while the intent might not have been malicious or a direct breach of the code, the outcome and public perception were problematic enough to warrant his resignation.
The reactions to the unfolding scandal were swift and varied. Paul Holden, one of the journalists targeted in the investigation, publicly condemned Simons’ actions. On Saturday, Holden declared that "Josh Simons doesn’t deserve to be an MP, let alone a cabinet minister," further stating, "I will now work to make sure parliamentary authorities hold him to account if our weak and supine prime minister will not." Holden claimed that Simons’ actions had threatened his livelihood and reputation, causing him "significant distress."
Within the Labour Party, the controversy also sparked dissent, with more than 20 Labour MPs reportedly calling for a "fully independent investigation" into Simons and the contents of the report. This internal pressure underscored the seriousness with which many viewed the implications of a political organisation investigating journalists in such a manner.
Allies of Josh Simons have communicated to the BBC that while he deeply regretted the incident, they believed APCO Worldwide bore responsibility for its actions and had, so far, not taken it. They contended that Simons had prioritised his party by resigning and reiterated that he had never intended to smear journalists.
The Conservative Party seized on the opportunity to criticise the Labour leadership. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir Starmer of attempting to "sneak out yet another ministerial resignation" by timing the announcement amidst reports of strikes in the Middle East. Badenoch launched a scathing attack, stating, "Josh Simons was in charge of a group that deliberately smeared journalists, even using a journalist’s Jewish faith to call him into question. Labour hasn’t changed." She further called on the Prime Minister to "tell us immediately if he will now end Labour Together’s links with his government and return the tainted money they’ve donated," linking the think tank directly to the ethical questions raised.
Alison Phillips, who assumed the role of Labour Together’s chief executive in 2025, responded to the controversy by describing the "scope of the work" carried out by APCO as "indefensible." She emphasised that the organisation was now operating under new leadership and was committed to "learn the necessary lessons of the past," signaling a potential shift in the think tank’s operational ethics and oversight.
The incident highlights the delicate balance between political strategy, transparency, and the fundamental principles of a free press. While Simons’ resignation brings an end to his tenure as a minister, the broader questions about the conduct of political organisations and their engagement with external firms in matters concerning journalistic inquiry are likely to endure.
atisusanti
Nakalama John
George Anjay
