Keir Starmer has requested his ethics adviser to conduct an investigation into a senior minister who is facing allegations of initiating an inquiry into journalists while leading a Labour-supporting think tank.
Pressure is mounting on Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons following accusations that Labour Together, a think tank he headed before entering Government, paid a PR firm, Apco Worldwide, a minimum of £30,000 to scrutinize journalists from various media outlets, such as the Sunday Times and the Guardian.
Apco was tasked with examining the “sourcing, funding, and origins” of news coverage in 2023 related to Labour Together’s failure to disclose over £700,000 in donations. The think tank was fined £14,250 in September 2021 for delayed reporting of donations spanning from 2017 to 2020, after self-referring to the Electoral Commission.
A report by the Sunday Times was based on documents acquired by freelance journalist Paul Holden, which were intended for inclusion in upcoming stories by American journalist Matt Taibbi.
Mr. Simons has consistently refuted claims of instructing the firm to investigate British journalists. Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, has been tasked with determining if the ministerial code has been breached.
Darren Jones, the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary, disclosed that Mr. Starmer had instructed civil servants within the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team to verify the facts last week.
Jones stated, “The investigation has concluded, and the findings have been reported to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has been advised to refer the matter to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, which has been done today.”
“This is not a new procedure but a continuation of the ongoing process initiated by the Prime Minister. A decision will be made by the Prime Minister once he receives advice from the independent adviser, which is expected shortly, and the advice will be publicly disclosed in due course,” Jones emphasized, highlighting the importance of press freedom in democracy.
Earlier, Downing Street affirmed Mr. Starmer’s confidence in Mr. Simons, the Member of Parliament for Makerfield.
