Keir Starmer hit by resignation as Labour minister quits following ethics probe

Labour MP Josh Simons has resigned as a Cabinet Office Minister following allegations of a "smear campaign" against journalists during his time heading up a centre-left think tank.

Mr Simons penned a letter to Sir Keir Starmer today to confirm his return to Labour's backbenches.

The Makerfield MP's resignation came shortly after the Prime Minister asked his ethics adviser to investigate whether Mr Simons broke the ministerial code.

Despite being cleared by the Prime Minister's independent ethics adviser, Mr Simons admitted the scandal has "become a distraction from this Government's important work".

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He added: "For that reason, and with sadness and regret, I offer my resignation."

Mr Simons was accused of commissioning public relations firm Apco Worldwide to carry out a 58-page report on the backgrounds of journalists who had been investigating £730,000 worth of donations to Labour Together.

Labour Together, which helped Sir Keir secure the Labour leadership in 2020, paid Apco Worldwide at least £38,000 to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of The Sunday Times's donations story.

In his resignation letter, Mr Simons added: "As I have said many times, I never sought to smear these newspaper reporters. I have not been able to go into detail on these claims while this investigation has been ongoing.

"During my time as Chief Executive of Labour Together, I sought to investigate how confidential material had been disclosed, and if it was the result of publicly confirmed hacks, including that of the Electoral Commission."

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