Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure to investigate potential links between his Government and a prominent think tank, Labour Together, which has been accused of hiring a public relations firm to surveil journalists. Allegations suggest that Labour Together engaged APCO Worldwide to probe reporters from outlets such as The Sunday Times and The Guardian following reports about the think tank’s failure to declare over £700,000 in donations.
The investigation reportedly began in 2023, during the tenure of Josh Simons, who is now a Member of Parliament for Makerfield and serves as a minister in the Cabinet Office. According to The Sunday Times, APCO was compensated £36,000 for its efforts to identify the sources behind these critical reports. Similar allegations were previously highlighted by the newsletter, Democracy For Sale.
Before Simons took over, Morgan McSweeney managed Labour Together but recently resigned from his position as chief of staff to the Prime Minister due to his involvement in appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, D.C. The Conservative Party has formally requested that Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley examine Simons’ role in the decision to engage APCO, as well as the involvement of other Labour Together directors, some of whom are currently serving as ministers.
The Conservative Party’s letter, penned by chairman Kevin Hollinrake, urges Labour to suspend all interactions with Labour Together until an independent investigation clarifies the allegations. Hollinrake stated, “Once again, the Government is distracted from the serious challenges facing our country. The public deserve the full, unredacted facts about this latest scandal to engulf the top of the Labour Party. Nothing less will suffice.”
In his remarks, Hollinrake pointed out that Labour Together’s actions reflect a troubling disregard for the free press, a cornerstone of democracy. He called for transparency, questioning whether senior officials within the Prime Minister’s office were aware of these actions.
A report composed by APCO, which spanned 58 pages, allegedly sought to undermine the credibility of reporters investigating campaign finance irregularities related to Labour Together. The think tank was previously fined £14,250 in September 2021 for late reporting of donations, totaling £730,000 from 2017 to 2020, after it voluntarily reported the matter to the Electoral Commission.
In addition to Conservative calls for an investigation, Labour backbenchers and Reform UK representatives have also voiced concerns. Clive Lewis, an MP for Norwich South, emphasized the need for Labour and the Prime Minister to fully cooperate with an independent inquiry, stating, “what was commissioned, who authorised it, who knew about it, and how far it went.”
Former Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi described the situation as significant, asserting that if it involved any other political party, demands for an investigation would be overwhelming. He urged clarity on who within Labour was aware of these proceedings, questioning if the Prime Minister had any knowledge of the situation.
Furthermore, Stephen Flynn, the leader of the SNP in Westminster, called for the Prime Minister to dismiss Simons from his ministerial role, labeling the affair as a “creepy spy scandal.” Flynn criticized the Labour Government for being “consumed by chaos” and failing to address pressing issues, particularly the rising cost of living affecting families across the UK.
Both the Labour Party and APCO have been approached for comments regarding these allegations but have not yet responded. As the situation unfolds, the implications of these accusations could significantly impact the Labour Party’s credibility and governance.
