Josh Simons Under Investigation Over Journalist Inquiry Linked to Labour Think Tank

Josh Simons, the Cabinet Office minister responsible for Britain’s digital identity program, is under investigation after commissioning an inquiry into journalists while leading the Labour Party think tank, Labour Together.

Prime Minister Orders Propriety and Ethics Investigation

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has instructed the government’s propriety and ethics team to investigate Simons’ actions. Labour Together reportedly paid £36,000 to a public relations firm to investigate journalists who uncovered funding irregularities within the organization.

Background on Labour Together’s Controversy

The controversy dates back to 2023, when Labour Together hired APCO Worldwide, a US public affairs firm, to investigate Sunday Times journalists. These journalists had reported on the think tank’s failure to declare £730,000 in donations between 2017 and 2020. Labour Together’s decision to pay £36,000 to investigate the journalists’ motivations and backgrounds raised significant concerns.

APCO Worldwide was tasked with examining the sourcing of the Sunday Times article. However, this approach—focusing on discrediting journalists rather than pursuing legal action—has been criticized for attempting to undermine journalistic scrutiny while exposing Labour Together to reputational risks.

Problematic Findings in APCO’s Report

The APCO report contained controversial claims, including suggestions that the journalists were part of a Russian conspiracy and that their work involved emails hacked by the Kremlin. The report also mentioned the Jewish background of one journalist, Gabriel Pogrund, raising serious press freedom concerns. These elements, combined with geopolitical insinuations, went beyond standard reputation management practices.

Tom Harper, a former Sunday Times employee and senior director at APCO, prepared the report, suggesting insider knowledge was used to craft the allegations. Labour Together passed a redacted version of the report to GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, which decided against launching a full inquiry.

Simons’ Response and Press Freedom Concerns

Simons expressed shock and surprise at the inclusion of unnecessary personal details in the report. He claims to have requested the removal of such information before providing the report to GCHQ. Despite this, the incident has drawn significant criticism from press freedom advocates and opposition parties.

The controversy has highlighted broader issues, including Labour Together's failure to declare donations, which led to 20 breaches of campaign finance law and a £14,250 fine from the Electoral Commission in 2021.

Labour Together’s Political Influence

Labour Together played a key role in supporting Keir Starmer’s successful leadership bid, making the current investigation particularly sensitive for the Labour government. Several alumni from Labour Together now hold senior government positions, creating political vulnerabilities for the Starmer administration.

Demands for Accountability

The investigation has prompted cross-party demands for accountability. Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart called for Simons to step down temporarily, describing the inquiry into journalists as an attack on the free press. Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch demanded full transparency about who commissioned and authorized the investigation, as well as the use of the information gathered.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall defended the government’s stance on press freedom, emphasizing the importance of the ongoing propriety and ethics investigation. Kendall also noted that the regulatory body for public affairs companies is examining the matter.

Implications for the Digital Identity Program

Simons’ leadership of the government’s digital identity program has also come under scrutiny. Initially proposed as a compulsory system for right-to-work checks, the program faced public backlash, leading Simons to drop the mandatory requirement in January. These policy reversals, combined with the ongoing investigation, have raised concerns about Simons’ credibility and ability to lead this initiative.

During a parliamentary exchange, Simons stated that right-to-work checks would still be digitized, even though digital ID is no longer mandatory. Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake questioned how individuals without digital IDs would complete these checks, emphasizing lingering doubts about the program’s implementation and implications for British citizens.

Cabinet Office Investigation and Potential Outcomes

The Cabinet Office investigation will examine the commissioning of the APCO report, the decision-making process within Labour Together, and adherence to proper protocols. The findings could have significant implications for Simons’ political future and the credibility of the digital identity program.

The investigation’s outcome will determine whether Simons can maintain public trust while leading a program that depends on such trust to succeed. The controversy has created additional challenges for a policy already facing skepticism from civil liberties advocates concerned about state surveillance and data privacy.

Ultimately, the findings will shape both Simons’ ministerial tenure and the future trajectory of the digital identity program. The investigation continues, with its conclusions poised to significantly impact the Labour government.