There was more to the resignation of Josh Simons last week, than just to find a route for Andy #Burnham into Parliament.
‘Keir #Starmer’s most senior advisers were briefed about an “indefensible” investigation into journalists writing critical pieces about the #LabourTogether thinktank, according to a newly released document.’
‘Josh Simons, was #LabourTogether ‘s director when he commissioned an investigation in 2023 into the source of stories about £740,000 undeclared donations made to the thinktank when it was previously run by McSweeney. The thinktank was fined £14,250 in September 2021.
Six months before Labour won the 2024 general election, Simons wrote to #McSweeney and Paul #Ovenden, who was #Starmer’s director of political strategy, to update them on investigation run by Apco Worldwide’
‘Tom Harper, Apco’s senior director, had been investigating the background and motivations of the journalists behind articles and social media posts, including Henry Dyer from the Guardian.’
‘The final report delivered by Harper included claims about the faith and relationships of Pogrund, who co-authored a Sunday Times investigation. It suggested Pogrund’s reporting could be seen as “destabilising to the UK and also in the interests of Russia’s strategic foreign policy objectives”.’
Juggling With Eggs