Labour Minister Falsely Linked Journalists to Pro-Kremlin Network in Emails to GCHQ
A Labour minister who claimed to be "surprised" and "furious" about a PR agency's investigation into journalists on his behalf was personally involved in naming them to British intelligence officials and falsely linking them to pro-Russian propaganda, the Guardian can reveal. Josh Simons, who was running the thinktank Labour Together at the time, sent emails to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a division of GCHQ, in 2024, accusing reporters of being part of a coordinated disinformation effort.
Emails Reveal Smear Campaign Details
The emails, seen by the Guardian, show Simons and his chief of staff, Ben Szreter, detailed efforts to get intelligence officials to investigate the sourcing behind a Sunday Times story about Labour Together's failure to disclose £730,000 in political donations. When informed of the communications, some journalists accused Simons of orchestrating a "McCarthyite smear" campaign that left them feeling "violated". A spokesperson for Simons, now a Cabinet Office minister, stated: "These claims are untrue."
Simons commissioned APCO Worldwide in late 2023 to investigate the "sourcing, funding and origin" of the Sunday Times article. Despite claiming distress over the report's inclusion of unnecessary personal information about journalist Gabriel Pogrund, emails reveal Simons named Pogrund and colleague Harry Yorke to NCSC officials weeks later, suggesting their work was linked to a Russian disinformation campaign.
Personal Information and False Allegations
In the emails, Simons and Szreter passed on highly personal details about freelance reporter Paul Holden, including his home address and relationship with Jessica Murray, daughter of former Jeremy Corbyn adviser Andrew Murray. They falsely alleged that Andrew Murray was "suspected of links to Russian intelligence" and that Holden was part of a "far-left network" disseminating pro-Russian propaganda. There is no credible evidence supporting these claims, and the Sunday Times story was a public interest report on electoral law breaches.
Holden expressed shock, stating the investigation "could have had real material consequences for ongoing sensitive work", while Jessica Murray felt "deeply violated and vulnerable". Andrew Murray denied the allegations, calling them "a lie" and part of a "McCarthyite smear" to divert attention from Labour Together's legal failures.
Intelligence Response and Ongoing Scrutiny
The NCSC briefly assessed the allegations but decided not to investigate, noting information could have been obtained through various means. Simons, however, continued to press officials, warning of risks to "British democracy and national security" ahead of the general election. He is now under investigation by the Cabinet Office's propriety and ethics team for his role in commissioning and disseminating the APCO report.
Simons has faced calls to resign, with critics highlighting the unethical nature of targeting journalists. The emails underscore concerns about political interference and the misuse of intelligence channels to suppress critical reporting.
