A shocking revelation has emerged, exposing a Labour minister's false accusations against journalists. But here's where it gets controversial: the minister, Josh Simons, was not only aware of these accusations but actively involved in spreading them to British intelligence officials.
Simons, who led the thinktank Labour Together, claimed surprise and anger at a PR agency's investigation into journalists. However, the Guardian has uncovered emails from 2024, revealing Simons' personal involvement in naming journalists to GCHQ and falsely linking them to pro-Russian propaganda.
The emails detail Simons' efforts to convince intelligence officials to investigate a Sunday Times story about Labour Together's undisclosed political donations. When confronted, some journalists accused Simons of a smear campaign, feeling violated by the intrusion.
Simons had commissioned APCO Worldwide to investigate the story's sourcing, but the emails show he later named the same journalist to intelligence officials. Simons and his chief of staff, Ben Szreter, suggested the story was part of a coordinated effort to discredit Labour Together, targeting Keir Starmer and his adviser, Morgan McSweeney.
The Electoral Commission fined Labour Together for failing to declare £730,000 in donations, which were used to challenge Corbyn's left-wing faction and promote Starmer. Simons is now under investigation for his role in commissioning and sharing the APCO report.
Simons claimed he was shocked to find the report included unnecessary information about a Sunday Times journalist, Gabriel Pogrund. Yet, the emails reveal he named Pogrund and his colleague, Harry Yorke, to intelligence officials, implying a Russian disinformation campaign.
The emails also disclosed personal details about freelance reporter Paul Holden, who contributed to the Sunday Times story. Simons alleged Holden was part of a pro-Kremlin network, despite no credible evidence.
Holden and his partner, Jessica Murray, expressed deep distress over the invasion of their privacy and the false accusations. Andrew Murray, Jessica's father and a former Corbyn adviser, denied any links to Russian intelligence, calling Simons' actions a McCarthyite smear.
Simons' emails to intelligence officials went unanswered, but he continued to push the allegations. Labour Together briefed national newspapers, including the Guardian, with claims about Holden, hacked material, and Russia. However, none of these allegations were published, as the story was based on leaked files from Labour Party whistleblowers.
This scandal raises questions about the minister's integrity and the potential consequences for press freedom. Were these actions an attempt to silence critical journalists? And this is the part most people miss: how does this incident reflect on the broader political landscape and the relationship between politicians and the media?
