Prime Minister Requests Ethics Investigation into Minister Josh Simons
The prime minister has instructed his ethics adviser to conduct an investigation into minister Josh Simons following allegations concerning the think tank he formerly led. The claims involve the commissioning of a report that examined the backgrounds of journalists.
Labour Together, the organisation that supported Sir Keir Starmer's successful bid to become Labour leader, engaged APCO Worldwide for at least £30,000 to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of a Sunday Times article. The article focused on undeclared donations to the think tank in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
Simons has previously stated that the company "had gone beyond" the scope of their assignment by including "unnecessary information" in their report.
Sir Keir Starmer had already requested the Cabinet Office to carry out an investigation into Simons last week.
However, more than 20 Labour MPs have called for a "fully independent investigation," noting that Simons holds a ministerial position within the Cabinet Office.
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