Politicians from across the political spectrum are demanding Sir Keir Starmer dismiss Cabinet minister Josh Simons following allegations he orchestrated a smear operation against newspaper reporters.
Senior figures from the Conservative, Reform, Liberal Democrat and Labour parties have united in calling for the former Labour Together director’s removal from Government.
Critics argue Mr Simons is deeply implicated in dubious conduct and maintain his ministerial role has become impossible to sustain.
The pressure intensified after revelations emerged that he requested intelligence services investigate Sunday Times journalists whilst making false assertions about their supposed connections to the Kremlin.
Mr Simons allegedly commissioned PR company Apco Worldwide, paying £36,000 to probe the personal, religious and political backgrounds of reporters covering Labour Together’s undisclosed funding arrangements.
The minister initially expressed being “distressed” by the report, claiming Apco had exceeded its remit by incorporating unnecessary details about Gabriel Pogrund, the newspaper’s Whitehall editor.
However, The Guardian disclosed on Friday that Mr Simons had directly supplied information about Mr Pogrund and fellow journalists to British intelligence agencies.
The Makerfield MP is also accused of alleging they possessed Kremlin ties.
Josh Simons was appointed as a Cabinet Office Minister in Sir Keir Starmer’s September reshuffle | PARLIAMENT TV
A November 2023 email appeared to set out the scope of work Apco had agreed to undertake for Labour Together.
The correspondence, addressed to Mr Simons, stated: “Apco will investigate the sourcing, funding and origins of a Sunday Times article about Labour Together, as well as upcoming works by authors Paul Holden and Matt Taibbi, to establish who and what are behind the coordinated attacks on Labour Together.”
The email continued that the approach should generate evidence “that could be packaged up for use in the media in order to create narratives that would proactively undermine any future attacks on Labour Together”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The latest installation of this case shows Josh Simons was in this up to his neck. He clearly knew exactly what was going on.”
Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to sack the Labour minister
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Mr Philp insisted the minister “is therefore not suitable to serve as a minister and he should resign and, if he doesn’t, the Prime Minister should fire him”.
Reform frontbencher Robert Jenrick added: “Josh Simons commissioned a report to smear and discredit journalists and appears to have lied to cover it up.”
Mr Jenrick highlighted the irony that Mr Simons “championed mandatory digital ID and is entrusted with protecting the personal data of British citizens”.
He concluded: “There is no way he can continue in his position.”
Robert Jenrick joined calls for the PM to sack Josh Simons
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GETTYMeanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey remarked: “We were told this Government would be cleaner than clean.
“Instead we’re stuck with Cabinet Office ministers whose previous spin tactics involved reporting journalists to the intelligence agencies. Simons must consider his position.”
Labour MPs also began distancing themselves from their colleague on Saturday.
Rachel Maskell told The Telegraph: “I find it astounding that he [Josh Simons] is still in place in the Cabinet Office.
Chris Philp also put pressure on the Prime Minister
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PA“I think it’s quite curious why action hasn’t been taken on that ground. There must be an independent investigation into what happened.”
Karl Turner, another Labour backbencher, argued: “I don’t think it cuts the mustard to have the Cabinet Office investigating a Cabinet minister.”
Mr Turner described the alleged pursuit of journalists by a PR firm as “an absolute disgrace and completely shameful if proven to be true,” adding that had Mr Simons been a Conservative, Labour colleagues would undoubtedly be demanding his dismissal.
Ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Committee on Standards in Public Life chief Alistair Graham have both called for an independent inquiry into the affair.