Cross-party condemnation has erupted after revelations that a Labour think tank paid £36,000 to a US lobbying firm to investigate Sunday Times journalists, with one Labour MP describing the behaviour as “shameful” whilst the Prime Minister orders a Cabinet Office probe.
Josh Simons, who now serves as an MP and Cabinet Office Minister, led Labour Together at the time the organization commissioned APCO Worldwide to examine the “backgrounds and motivations” of reporters Gabriel Pogrund and Harry Yorke. The journalists had been investigating the think tank’s donations when the dossier was compiled.
Labour MP Stella Creasy stated: “Genuinely shocked to read this and what happened. Shameful.” Her criticism represents a rare public rebuke from within the party over the conduct of an organization closely linked to the Prime Minister’s inner circle.
The 58-page report compiled by APCO attempted to falsely link the two Sunday Times reporters to Russia, making what have been characterized as bogus claims suggesting they could be part of a Kremlin conspiracy. The baseless smears have prompted government action and regulatory scrutiny.
Parts of the dossier were shared with Britain’s spy agency GCHQ, which declined to investigate the allegations against the journalists. The involvement of intelligence services in reviewing the privately commissioned report has intensified concerns about the appropriateness of the investigation.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed today he had no prior knowledge of the investigation commissioned from APCO Worldwide. “There will be a Cabinet Office investigation into the allegations. I didn’t know anything about this investigation, and it absolutely needs to be looked into, so the Cabinet Office will be establishing the facts,” the Prime Minister stated.
Labour Together was previously run by Morgan McSweeney, who served as the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff until his recent resignation over the Lord Mandelson scandal. The think tank effectively operated as a campaign vehicle for Starmer’s leadership bid, making the revelations particularly sensitive given the organization’s proximity to Number 10.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall addressed the controversy on Times Radio, stating: “Personally, and as a government as a whole, we absolutely value the freedom of the press. It’s right that this issue is being investigated by the relevant body here, the regulatory body which is looking at public affairs companies. And the Cabinet Office will also be looking into this to make sure all the facts are established.”
Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy demanded accountability from the Prime Minister. “Labour Together took Starmer to the leadership of his party. It paid foreign lobbyists to smear the journalists who investigated. Starmer has serious questions to answer,” he stated.
The £36,000 payment to the American lobbying firm to probe British journalists has raised questions about press freedom and the tactics employed by political organizations when facing media scrutiny. The decision to hire foreign investigators to examine reporters working for a British newspaper has drawn particular criticism.
The Cabinet Office investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding Labour Together’s decision to commission the dossier and determine what facts can be established about the organization’s conduct. A separate regulatory body is also investigating the public affairs company involved in compiling the report.
The revelation has sparked anger across the political spectrum, with MPs from multiple parties demanding transparency about who authorized the investigation, who was informed of its findings, and why claims linking British journalists to Russian interests were made without foundation.
The probe comes at a difficult time for the Prime Minister, whose administration continues dealing with fallout from the Lord Mandelson scandal that prompted McSweeney’s departure. The involvement of another close ally in a separate controversy adds to pressure on Starmer’s leadership.
The Cabinet Office will establish timelines for when the investigation was commissioned, who approved the expenditure, and what use was made of the dossier’s contents once completed. Officials will also examine whether any government resources or personnel were involved in the matter whilst Simons held his ministerial position.
