'I was naive,' says minister who quit over Labour Together claims

Josh Simons, a Labour MP who recently stepped down from his position as a Cabinet Office minister, has described himself as "naive" and expressed his regret during his first comprehensive interview since his resignation.

Simons resigned on 28 February following allegations that the think tank he formerly managed commissioned a report examining the backgrounds of journalists.

Labour Together engaged APCO Worldwide for a minimum sum of £30,000 to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of a Sunday Times article that raised concerns over undeclared donations at the think tank, in the lead-up to the 2024 election.

In earlier statements, Simons clarified that he "never sought to smear" the journalists involved. In conversation with BBC’s Newscast, he noted, "there's a lot I've learned from it".

During his discussion with BBC hosts Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell, Simons revealed that when the Sunday Times reported on Labour Together’s failure to properly declare its donations, he was troubled by the possibility that acquired information might have been privately sourced, potentially through a breach of the Electoral Commission.

He expressed worry that such information could be exploited to redefine the narrative surrounding the antisemitism crisis that had unfolded under Labour Together, downplaying its significance.

The report by APCO Worldwide included details regarding journalist Gabriel Pogrund's Jewish identity and opinions concerning his ideological stance.

Sources indicated that the report suggested that Pogrund's past reporting—including coverage of the Royal Family—"could be seen as destabilising to the UK and also in the interests of Russia's strategic foreign policy objectives".

At 32 years old, Simons had previously commented that the contractor responsible for the research on behalf of Labour Together had "gone beyond" their original brief.

"I was naive, and there's a lot I've learned from it. There are definitely things I would have done differently," he stated during the latest episode of Newscast.

Simons recounted that he turned to APCO after the story broke, having been informed that the firm was reputable, serious, and had expertise in uncovering whether such material existed on the dark web and the reasons behind its use.

An ethics investigation was initiated by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer before Simons disclosed his resignation.

The prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, later determined that Simons had not violated any rules.

Nonetheless, Simons explained to the BBC that he chose to resign, as the story had become a "distraction" for the government.

He stated: "[Magnus] found that I hadn't breached the code because I was being honest and truthful.

"But it’s still the case that I gave the impression that that’s what I’d intended, even though it wasn’t. And actually, I think it was right for me to take responsibility for that, to say, look, I’m so sorry this happened."

Upon Simons' resignation, the prime minister expressed his regret, stating he accepted the resignation "with sadness" and extended his gratitude "for the commitment, focus, and energy you have brought to ministerial office".