Cabinet Minister Hired PR Firm to Probe Journalists’ Sources

Bassyonni

Published: February 7, 2026 3:46 AM ET

Labour Together faced a fine of £14,250 from the Electoral Commission in September 2021 due to late reporting of donations. This incident has resurfaced following revelations about the organization’s recent actions concerning journalists.

Cabinet Minister Hired PR Firm to Probe Journalists’ Sources

Josh Simons, a representative from Labour Together, addressed claims about his intent to investigate journalists. He labeled such assertions as “nonsense.” Simons clarified that he had engaged APCO Worldwide to examine a suspected illegal hack, which he stated was unrelated to any UK journalists from reputable outlets.

Response from APCO Worldwide and Journalist-Turned-Lobbyist

According to Simons, the investigation conducted by APCO Worldwide did not satisfactorily resolve the issue. He emphasized the essential role journalists play in a democratic society. As of now, both Labour Together and APCO Worldwide have not commented on the matter.

Labour Together fined £14,250 in September 2021.
Simons denies wanting to investigate journalists’ sources.
APCO Worldwide was hired to investigate a suspected illegal hack.
The investigation was not aimed at journalists from The Sunday Times or The Guardian.

A government source indicated that they are scrutinizing the allegations further. The organization allegedly employed Tom Harper, a journalist-turned-lobbyist from APCO Worldwide, to look into reports from The Sunday Times and other media outlets to pinpoint their sources.

Details of the Investigation

The contract from APCO Worldwide revealed its goal to identify who was behind the coordinated criticisms directed at Labour Together. The firm outlined its approach to utilize open source methods, human intelligence, and digital forensics. They aimed to gather evidence for potentially countering future attacks on the organization.

As of now, Tom Harper has not responded to requests for comments. The situation continues to develop as both government officials and Labour Together face scrutiny over their actions.