Labour urged to investigate ‘alarming revelations’ of think tank | Politics | News
Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
The Conservatives have demanded Labor investigate “alarming revelations” that a party-linked think tank had made “unfounded allegations” about journalists investigating it.
The calls increase pressure on Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons, who is preparing a report in 2023 into journalists investigating Labor Together.
The think tank helped Sir Keir return to power in 2024.
Conservative Party leader Kevin Hollinrake MP said: “Labour Together’s behavior shows a worrying disdain for a free press, the fundamental foundation of our democracy.
“Because of their close and widely known connections to the heart of government, serious questions need to be answered about who knew about these actions, including whether senior figures around the Prime Minister knew about them.
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“Following Starmer’s attempts to distance himself from the Mandelson-Epstein affair, the public will accept nothing less than full transparency.
The Sunday Times reported allegations that Labor Together hired lobbyists from US firm APCO to investigate journalists’ personal, political and religious backgrounds in order to create material for a smear campaign against journalists.
Among them was Gabriel Pogrund, who investigated Labor Together’s undeclared donations of £720,000.
In a settlement addressed to Mr Simons by Apco Worldwide, the PR consultancy said it would “investigate the sources, funding and origins” of a November 2023 Sunday Times report on the think tank, in addition to other journalistic investigations into the group.
The Sunday Times reported that the contents of Apco’s investigation were shared informally with Labor figures in 2024, including current cabinet ministers and special advisers.
Mr Simons, who has reportedly agreed with APCO, currently serves as Cabinet Minister responsible for investigative policy.
A number of other figures linked to Labor Together also hold senior Cabinet posts.
A Downing Street source said Sir Keir had no reason to be aware of the document and that he was not responsible for Labor Together.
Mr Simons told The Sunday Times: “I was surprised and shocked to read the report which went beyond the contract by including unnecessary information about Gabriel Pogrund.
“I asked for this information to be removed before forwarding the report to GCHQ. No other British journalists were investigated in any documents obtained by I or Labor Together.”
Alison Phillips, chief executive of Labor Together, wrote a letter to all staff at the organization on Sunday night.
He said he was “horrified” by the “shocking” allegations, but added that he had been assured there was “no intention” to investigate the journalists’ background.
Alison Phillips, chief executive of Labor Together, wrote a letter to all staff at the organization on Sunday night.
He says he is “horrified” by the “shocking” allegations, but adds that he was assured it was not the reporters’ “intent” to investigate his background.
