Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons resigns over Labour Together ‘distraction’

A Labour MP has resigned as a Cabinet Office minister after an investigation into allegations a prominent think tank he ran before entering government paid for a probe into journalists.

Although the investigation by Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser found Josh Simons had not breached the Ministerial Code, the MP for Makerfield, in Wigan, said he had “become a distraction from this Government’s important work”.

Mr Simons faced calls to resign after his think tank, Labour Together, was accused of paying PR firm Apco Worldwide £36,000 to investigate the background of journalists who had written stories about it.

In previous statements, Mr Simons said Apco had been hired to investigate an illegal hack.

But in a letter to the Prime Minister, ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus said the former minister now accepted the terms he agreed with Apco were “wider than he had understood” and he had acted “too hastily in confirming their appointment”.

While Sir Laurie said Mr Simons had acted “in good faith”, he said the MP acknowledged the “perceived gap between his public statements and what he now accepts appears to be a more extensive scope has been damaging”.

Sir Laurie added: “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 letter to the Prime Minister Mr Simons said he had "never sought to smear [the] newspaper reporters" and had "sought to investigate how confidential material had been disclosed".

But he said, it was "clear" he had become "a distraction".

He said: "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."

Sir Keir said he had accepted “with sadness” the resignation, adding he respected his decision.

“I want to express my thanks for the commitment, focus, and energy you have brought to ministerial office,” he said in his reply to Mr Simons’ letter of resignation.

Sir Keir added: “In accepting your resignation, I also want to place on record that the Independent Adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found no breach of the Ministerial Code. I am grateful for your full and proactive cooperation throughout his work.

“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.”

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