Labour minister Josh Simons has resigned from the government after the Guardian revealed he falsely linked reporters to a "pro-Kremlin" network in emails to GCHQ. This occurred despite Simons previously claiming to be "surprised" and "furious" about a PR firm's investigation into their journalism.
Pressure Mounts Over Thinktank's Commissioning of PR Firm
Simons, who served as a Cabinet Office minister and previously ran the thinktank Labour Together, stepped down on Saturday. He stated his position had become "a distraction from this government's important work." The Makerfield MP faced increasing scrutiny over his involvement in Labour Together's commissioning of the lobbying and public affairs agency APCO.
Investigation into Journalists and Political Donations
APCO was hired to investigate journalists who were reporting on the thinktank's failure to disclose political donations. Earlier this month, the Guardian disclosed that Simons had personally commissioned and reviewed APCO's report on these journalists.
After the Sunday Times reported that APCO's report contained baseless allegations about its journalist Gabriel Pogrund's faith, upbringing, and personal and professional relationships, Simons expressed being "surprised and shocked." He claimed the report "extended beyond the contract by including unnecessary information" on Pogrund.
Emails to National Cyber Security Centre Revealed
However, on Friday, the Guardian revealed that Simons and his chief of staff had emailed the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) following the APCO report. In these communications, they named Pogrund and his Sunday Times colleague Harry Yorke, suggesting their story could be connected to a Russian disinformation campaign.
They also sent a truncated version of the APCO report to NCSC officials. Additionally, they asserted that Paul Holden, a freelance journalist who also investigated Labour Together, could be linked to "people known to be operating in a pro-Kremlin propaganda network with links to Russian intelligence."
No Credible Evidence Found
There is no credible evidence that any of the journalists were involved in a pro-Russian campaign. This revelation intensified the controversy surrounding Simons' actions and his initial claims of ignorance regarding the report's contents.
Formal Investigation and Conclusion
Simons faced a formal investigation by the prime minister's independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus. Magnus concluded that Simons had not breached the ministerial code. However, he noted there was a "distraction and potential reputational damage" in Simons remaining in the government, which likely contributed to his decision to resign.
The resignation marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of political thinktanks and their interactions with the media. It underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in government and political operations, particularly concerning investigations into journalists.
