Labour Minister Quits After Probe Clears Him Of Smear Campaign Against Journalists

A government minister accused of organising a smear campaign against journalists has quit.

Josh Simons announced his resignation as a Cabinet Office minister after it emerged he had been cleared by Sir Laurie Magnus, the government’s ethics adviser, of breaching the ministerial code.

In a post on X, he said: “The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.

“But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.”

Keir Starmer asked Sir Laurie to investigate claims that the Labour Together think-tank ordered a smear campaign against journalists when it was run by Simons.

The organisation commissioned an investigation by PR consultancy Apco Worldwide into the “backgrounds and motivations” of reporters who had written stories about it.

That investigation examined “sourcing, funding and origins” of a November 2023 Sunday Times report into Labour Together’s funding, after it failed to declare £730,000 of donations between 2017 and 2020.

Its findings – which included false allegations about Sunday Times’ journalists Gabriel Pogrund and Harry Yorke – were then shared informally with Labour figures.

Simons has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In a letter setting out his findings to the PM, Sir Laurie said: “I see no basis for advising you of any breach of the Ministerial Code by Mr Simons, but you will wish to consider, in the light of this distraction and potential reputational damage, whether he continues to hold your confidence as a member of your government.”

In his resignation letter to Starmer, Simons said what had happened to Gabriel Pogrund was “a disgrace”.

He added: “I welcome that Sir Laurie Magnus has cleared me of breaching the Ministerial Code.

“It was important to me to complete this process to prove that I behaved with integrity and that my public statements have been truthful and honest.

“Nonetheless, it is clear that my remaining in office has now become a distraction from this government’s important work. For that reason, and with sadness and regret, I offer my resignation. It has been an honour to serve this great country.”

The PM said in his letter: “I understand that, to avoid any ongoing distraction from delivering the government’s mission, you have taken the difficult decision to step aside.

“I respect that decision, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in driving forward the Government’s priorities

A friend of Simons said: “The investigation found that Josh never sought to smear and investigate newspaper reporters.

“He has done the responsible thing to resign to end the distraction, putting the interests of the party first.”

A senior Labour source said Simons was “a good man who has been stitched up completely”.

But shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said Starmer “should have sacked him last week”.

He posted on X: “It was clear as day that he had done wrong. Labour waited to refer the case to the Independent Adviser to delay judgement until after the by-election (fat lot of good that did) Need full investigation into Labour Together now.”