The Resignation of Josh Simons
Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons has made a dramatic exit from his role amid an investigation into allegations that a Labour think tank he once led funded an inquiry to “defame” journalists. In a statement, Mr Simons said he was stepping down from his position in Downing Street because he had “become a distraction from this government’s important work.”
Before joining the government, Mr Simons served as a director of Labour Together, a group that succeeded Keir Starmer’s controversial former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney. He is now facing accusations that he hired a public relations company to discredit reporters investigating party donations. Despite these claims, Mr Simons has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that APCO had only been engaged to address a leak of confidential information from Labour Together.
However, pressure for his resignation has grown significantly. His departure is seen as another setback for the embattled prime minister, especially following Labour’s poor performance in the Gorton and Denton by-election, where the party finished in third place. Left-wing Labour MPs have used the probe into Mr Simons to push for more accountability within the party.
Labour Together played a central role in Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to restructure the Labour Party after the tenure of Jeremy Corbyn and his allies on the left. Now, left-wing Labour MPs Richard Burgon and John McDonnell have confirmed to The Independent that they have requested all documents related to them from both the think tank and APCO.
Mr Simons was cleared by ethics advisor Laurie Magnus, but he still felt his continued presence in the government was a “distraction.” In his resignation letter, he stated:
“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.”
He added:
“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.”
Mr Simons emphasized the importance of journalists in sustaining democracy, saying that they hold those in power accountable. However, he admitted that he could not provide details about the allegations while the investigation was ongoing.
Despite his resignation, the controversy is unlikely to fade. Labour MP Clive Lewis, who was believed to be targeted by Labour Together, criticized the prime minister for not acting sooner. He stated:
“Josh Simons should have resigned weeks ago. Failing that, he should have been dismissed. That he wasn’t speaks volumes.”
Lewis argued that a leader serious about standards should not wait for an ethics advisor to confirm what many could see from the start. He added:
“History rarely remembers the technicalities or the delays. It remembers whether leaders were prepared to make simple moral decisions when they mattered.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also condemned Sir Keir Starmer for failing to sack Mr Simons. She claimed that Labour Together had attempted to smear journalists and even used a journalist’s Jewish faith to question him. She demanded that Starmer end Labour Together’s ties with his government and return any tainted funds.
The subject access request by several Labour MPs linked to Mr Corbyn aims to examine Labour Together’s role in ousting him and installing Sir Keir as leader. At the same time, questions remain about how journalists are treated under Starmer’s leadership. Since the new year, the government has canceled daily press briefings and directed some questions at Labour-friendly “social media influencers” instead of traditional journalists.
In response to Mr Simons’ resignation, Sir Keir thanked him, emphasizing the importance of press freedom. He stated:
“As you note in your letter, freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy. The government remains firmly committed to upholding and protecting that freedom.”
A Cabinet Office source praised Mr Simons for taking responsibility and putting the long-term direction of the government first. They added:
“He’ll not give up his energy in driving the party and this country forward.”
