Labour’s Josh Simons resigns as he issues statement after accusations | Politics | News
Labor MP Josh Simons resigns as Cabinet Minister (Image: Sky News)
Labor MP Josh Simons has resigned as a Cabinet Office minister following an investigation into allegations that a think tank he led before entering Government launched an investigation into journalists. Labor Together, considered one of the most influential organizations in party circles, was accused of paying £36,000 to Apco Worldwide to investigate journalists who wrote stories about its activities.
An investigation by Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser concluded Mr Simons had not breached the Ministerial Code but the Makerfield MP said he was “a distraction from the important business of Government”.
Mr Simons was facing calls to resign and had said he had been hired to investigate an illegal hack of Apco. Ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus said in a letter to the Prime Minister that Mr Simons accepted that the terms he agreed with Apco were “more extensive than he understood” and that he had “been too hasty in confirming their appointment”.
Sir Laurie said Mr Simons had acted in “good faith” and said the MP accepted that “the perceived gap between the statements he has made publicly and what he now accepts as a broader scope is damaging”.
He added: “I see no reason to advise you that Mr Simons has breached the Ministerial Code, but in light of this distraction and possible loss of reputation you will want to consider whether he retains your confidence as a member of your Government.”
Keir Starmer orders investigation into allegations against Josh Simons (Image: Getty)
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of using the “conflict in the Middle East” to “secretly cover up another ministerial resignation”.
He described it as “another time he didn’t have the courage to sack a minister who was clearly wrong”. He claimed that a “journalist’s Jewish faith” was used to “question” him.
“‘Think tank’ Labor Together has donated to or provided support to more than 100 Labor MPs, including most of the Cabinet,” he said. “His former staff hold positions of influence across the Government, including as civil servants. Simons has resigned, so it’s clear that Labor Together is completely finished as an organisation. Keir Starmer must tell us now whether Labor Together will end its links with his Government and whether he will return the dirty money they donated.”
The Prime Minister said he had accepted Mr Simons’ resignation as a Cabinet Minister “with regret”.
In his response to Mr Simons’ resignation letter, he said: “I would like to express my gratitude for the commitment, focus and energy you bring to the ministerial office.”
Sir Keir added: “In accepting your resignation, I would also like to place on record that Independent Counsel Sir Laurie Magnus has not identified any breaches of the Ministerial Code. I am grateful for your full and proactive co-operation throughout his work. I understand that you have made the difficult decision to step aside to avoid distraction in delivering the Government’s mission. I respect that decision and look forward to continuing to work with you to take forward the Government’s priorities.”
‘I never sought to smear newspaper reporters’
Josh Simons says in his resignation letter:
I welcome Sir Laurie Magnus’ acquittal of violating the Ministerial Code. It was important for me to complete this process to prove that I acted with integrity and that the statements I made to the public were true and honest. However, it is clear that my remaining in office has now led to a distraction from the important work of this Government. Therefore, it is with sadness and regret that I submit my resignation. It is an honor for me to serve this great country. The work of reporters like Gabriel Pogrund, Harry Yorke and Henry Dyer keeps our democracy alive. They hold those in power to account with meticulousness and impartiality. In an age where trust in politics is low, anything perceived as an attack on their integrity and independence deserves thorough scrutiny. As I have said many times, I never tried to denigrate these newspaper reporters.
Alex Burghart says Mr Simons should have been sacked sooner (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Apco has been ordered to examine the “sources, funding and origins” of reports in 2023 about Labor Together’s failure to declare donations of more than £700,000. The think tank was fined £14,250 in September 2021 for late reporting donations between 2017 and 2020, following a self-appointed appeal to the Electoral Commission.
Shadow Cabinet Minister Alex Burghart said Sir Keir Starmer should have sacked Mr Simons sooner.
In a post on
Mr. Simons’ allies say he did “the responsible thing” to end the “distraction” and never tried to smear or investigate reporters. They say he “will not remain silent against those who step back” but will “passionately” demonstrate his efforts to change the country for the better.
Another ally said: “By stepping aside despite his acquittal, Josh has shown that he is the kind of person who will take responsibility and put the long-term direction of the Government first. He will not give up his energy to take the party and this country forward.”
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